Image by CBC News
Although the risk of radon can be more prominent in certain areas of the world, its presence is not directly contingent on location. Homeowners may see elevated levels in their own residence, even if neighbors do not – and vice versa. That being said, there are places like Kentucky in the US and New Brunswick or Manitoba in Canada that see the highest instances of elevated radon.
A doctor in Halifax wants the province to purchase software that would shed some light on patient symptoms and environmental risk factors. The software is called Geomatic Information Systems, and it will essentially allow users to combine and analyze relevant data about potential risks in their area. Doctors and patients would be able to correctly identify patterns in the environment such as the presence of elevated radon in the environment.
Geographic Information Software Can Detect Common Issues Like Radon in the Environment
The software is remarkably easy to use and requires merely an area code. It will then display a web-based map with known dangers in the area. Using this information, patients and doctors can see what may or may not be the cause of health issues.
Corey Nelson, accountant manager for ESRI Canada – a company that specializes in geographic information system solutions – says that the software is extremely effective. Nelson and Dr Ajantha Jayabarathan were able to sort through 650 different patient records and identify 10 cases where the patient was experiencing respiratory problems because they were living in an area with a high radon risk. As you may already know from this site, exposure to radon significantly increases the risk of lung cancer and can cause many respiratory problems – if exposed to it for an extended period of time.
Jayabarathan further points out that the software allows her to assess more than just a patient’s symptoms. Often, health issues can be directly influenced by our environment or living conditions.
“With a tool like this I could probably also say ‘Did you know that you happen to live in a place that is high in radon? It might be to your value to have your air tested’”.
Unfortunately, Deputy Health Minister Peter Vaughan says that the software will not be made available to doctors in Nova Scotia anytime soon. It’s pretty expensive, with a price tag of about $10,000 per year, per user.
“That’s a pretty significant cost when you add up the 2,500 physicians in the province and it’s not something that we would again prioritize at this stage.”
That claim may seem a bit silly when you consider the fact that radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer in many places around the world, Canada included.
The Software Could Be a Benefit Anywhere
Even though this news is coming out of Canada, the software would be beneficial anywhere. It would allow health care providers to identify common environmental problems, or more importantly an elevated presence of radon.
Perhaps we should consider using the software – expensive or not – here in the US?
VIa: CBC News
