Editorial: Radon fix would save millions

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This week’s conference of the Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists in Moncton paid tribute to Angela Stief Lea, who died April 18 from terminal lung cancer.

That cancer resulted after unknowingly being exposed to high levels of radon gas in her home the family built 26 years ago.

Association vice-president Jeff LeBlanc, a certified radon inspector who’d tested Stief Lea’s home, paid tribute to her, as did the New Brunswick Lung Association. She selflessly spent much of her final year, though suffering, warning and educating New Brunswickers about the silent, odourless killer that threatens many of our homes.

It’s due to our geology and we are one of the most susceptible provinces. Most remediation costs between $2,000 and $3,000.

Stief Lea, a physiotherapist, was known as a promoter of healthy living, yet was unaware of the radon threat until her cancer diagnosis after silently being affected by radon.

The best way to honour her memory is for all future governments to heed the advice and pleas of the experts. Other provinces manage the threat better than we do.

Today’s and past governments have simply not done enough in maintaining public awareness. Leaving remediation to homeowners is defensible, given the costs are in most cases less than or equal to replacing an old roof. But people need to be educated about the threat.

Stief Lea valiantly showed us the need. It’s over to our governments now.

In March we suggested interest-free, short-term loans for homeowners to remediate affected homes because much higher health-care savings will result via fewer cancers. In effect, it’s in the province’s best financial interest to get remediation done as quickly as possible.

More importantly, this is about reducing the pain and suffering of severe, preventable illnesses. Our government must step up.