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Indoor radon trends with building code change in two Canadian cities.
Janet Gaskin1, Liang Grace Zhou1, Robert Stainforth2
1Construction Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, 1200 Montreal Road, Ottawa, K1A 0R6, Canada.
Journal of Environmental Radioactivity
|November 12, 2024
Summary
Newer homes in Halifax show higher indoor radon levels after 2011 building code changes, while Winnipeg showed no significant change. This supports stronger radon prevention measures in new housing to reduce lung cancer risk.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Public Health
- Building Science
Background:
- Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas and the second leading cause of lung cancer globally.
- Building codes aim to mitigate health risks associated with indoor environments, including radon exposure.
- Understanding the impact of code changes on indoor radon concentrations is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate indoor radon trends in Halifax and Winnipeg before and after the 2011 adoption of the National Building Code of Canada.
- To identify factors associated with indoor radon concentrations in newer housing developments.
- To inform policy on radon prevention measures in residential construction.
Main Methods:
- Recruitment of participants in new housing developments in Halifax and Winnipeg.
- Distribution of free alpha-track radon detectors for a three-month heating season measurement (2021-2022).
- Multivariate logistic regression analysis of indoor radon concentrations against construction period, house characteristics, and location.
Main Results:
- Halifax houses built after 2011 showed a nearly doubled likelihood of elevated radon concentrations (OR 1.91).
- No significant change in indoor radon was observed in Winnipeg houses post-2011.
- Measurements on main/upper floors were less likely to be elevated compared to basements in both cities (OR 0.48 Halifax, OR 0.45 Winnipeg).
Conclusions:
- The 2011 National Building Code may have influenced indoor radon levels in Halifax, but not Winnipeg.
- Radon detector location (basement vs. upper floors) is a significant factor in measurement outcomes.
- Strengthening radon preventive measures in new low-rise housing is recommended to mitigate lung cancer risk in Canada.
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