One way to initiate education and increasing public’s awareness on radon exposure and its negative consequences is by identifying who can be most affected by the chemical contact. Children and smokers are the most vulnerable to radon exposure (Huntington-Moskos, Rayens, Wiggins, & Hahn, 2016, p. 535). In comparison to adults, children are more sensitive to radon, which predisposes them to developing lung cancer (p. 529). The risk of getting lung cancer also drastically increases in smokers due to the synergistic effect of cigarette smoke and radon (p. 530). Being one of the frontlines of primary health care, nurses are in the perfect position to discuss home radon exposure and suggest methods to prevent its negative consequences with the clients. For example, nurses can briefly inform the clients and their family about the issue during children’s clinic appointments or during lung cancer screenings. To reduce the negative
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Nevertheless, radon exposure is not a public health priority. There is no requirement in Canada to test for radon in residential properties, schools, hospitals or workplaces (Kelsall, 2015, p. 1). Furthermore, radon mitigation is optional and there are limited mitigators certified to do the work (Barn & Kosatsky, 2012, p. 174). Radon levels testing is easy and inexpensive; however, high radon levels mitigation can cost from a hundred to a thousand dollars (p. 174). Employers and landlords reasonably would rather not address the problem because there are no legal requirements and it would be too costly. Likewise, home owners struggling with income, job security or unemployment would be dissuaded to manage their houses’ radon levels. For these reasons, people assume that radon is not an important issue, risk the chances of radon exposure and, ultimately, jeopardize their
Nevertheless, radon exposure is not a public health priority. There is no requirement in Canada to test for radon in residential properties, schools, hospitals or workplaces (Kelsall, 2015, p. 1). Furthermore, radon mitigation is optional and there are limited mitigators certified to do the work (Barn & Kosatsky, 2012, p. 174). Radon levels testing is easy and inexpensive; however, high radon levels mitigation can cost from a hundred to a thousand dollars (p. 174). Employers and landlords reasonably would rather not address the problem because there are no legal requirements and it would be too costly. Likewise, home owners struggling with income, job security or unemployment would be dissuaded to manage their houses’ radon levels. For these reasons, people assume that radon is not an important issue, risk the chances of radon exposure and, ultimately, jeopardize their