New legislation to regulate mould, radon in indoor air

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Mould, radon to be monitored and regulated

Toronto Star - Ontario, Canada

Environmentalist praises `landmark decision'

Oct. 20, 2006. 01:00 AM

TANYA TALAGA

HEALTH REPORTER

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Canadians spend 90 per cent of their time indoors, and that's why

Health Minister Tony Clement said the government will start

monitoring and regulating harmful moulds, radon and other pollutants

inside buildings and homes.

A significant part of the Clean Air Act introduced yesterday is

aimed at the problem of dirty indoor air, Clement told the Toronto

Star.

" This new piece of legislation will allow the federal government for

the first time to start regulating indoor air, " said

Clement. " You've got mould, radon and particulate matter making

Canadians sick and having a particular impact on absenteeism of kids

away from school. They are very susceptible to indoor air quality,

and so are the elderly. "

When asked for details, Clement said the government is starting at

the " ground floor, " so it needs to find out where the problems are,

and then move on regulations.

" Radon is the second-biggest killer when it comes to lung cancer in

this country, " after tobacco, said Clement.

Radon is an odourless and colourless radioactive gas that comes from

the natural breakdown of uranium in soils and rocks. In confined

spaces such as basements, exposure can increase lung cancer risk. It

can enter a home through cracks in the walls and through drains.

Environmentalist Ian Morton, a founder of Healthy Indoors

Partnership, called the move a " landmark decision. "

" This is a very positive development, " he said. " Indoor air can be

more polluted than outdoor air. We spend a lot of time inside. We

know these contaminants impact health. "