Three New Brunswick schools test for elevated radon gas levels

FREDERICTON-The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development says three schools in the province have tested positive for elevated levels of radon gas.

The province says its working on ways to bring the levels down, and will monitor their progress.

“It’s something we don’t take lightly,” said Pascal Landry, a technical service manager for the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. “Whenever we have radon levels we take care of them.”

The schools where elevated levels were reported are Leo Hayes High School and Gibson-Neill Memorial Elementary school in Fredericton, as well as Central New Brunswick Academy in New Bandon.

The province says parents at the schools have been notified about the situation.

“I do think parents should feel safe having their kids at school; there’s no immediate danger,” Landry said. “It’s a long-term issue.”

However, some groups say the province should be doing more to spread awareness about the dangers of radon gas exposure.

Roshini Kassie speaks for the The New Brunswick Lung Association, and says radon gas levels in New Brunswick are among the highest in Canada.

“Breathing high levels of radon over a long period of time increases your risk of developing lung cancer,” said Kassie. “Here in New Brunswick we have higher levels of radon compared to other provinces and territories in the country.”

However, Kassie says supports the government efforts to keep levels safe in schools.

“These lung cancer risks are preventable and another good thing is the schools in New Brunswick have been tested over the last couple of years,” she said.