It is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Radon is odorless and colorless, but can be very dangerous to your health. Due to the strong presence of granite, the Deux-Sèvres department is particularly exposed to it. The ARS and certain municipalities are setting up a detection campaign among individuals.
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“In our house, I think we have radon. It's good to know, to know the arrangements to be made, if we need to make renovations.“Like nine other volunteers, Marie-Hélène, resident of Soudan, in Deux-Sèvres, went to the neighboring town of Exireuil, in order to participate in a radon detection campaign. This radioactive natural gas is the second cause of lung cancer, behind tobacco. Emanating from granite, it is present throughout the Armorican massif which extends to Deux-Sèvres. So, the municipalities and the Agency. Regional Health (ARS) Nouvelle-Aquitaine are mobilizing.
“The municipality contacted us to find out if we were volunteersexplains Marie-Hélène, retired teacher. I became aware of it when I was a teacher, because in schools we regularly had radon testers. I wondered why they only put them in public establishments and not in private homes, so I found the idea very interesting.“Especially since his house, placed on a granite slab, is highly exposed.
This dosimeter measures the quantity of radon in individuals. It is installed for a period of two months.
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© Cyril Paquier – France Télévisions
Odorless and colorless, radon can have serious health consequences in the event of prolonged exposure. A situation that worries the resident of Sudan. So when her municipality asked her to participate in a radon detection campaign, she did not hesitate.
We have had doubts for several years and sometimes we see that there are alerts in the area.
Marie-Hélène,resident of Soudan (Deux-Sèvres)
Like nine other residents, she collected two dosimeters to install in the living areas of her house. For two months, the devices will measure the quantity of radon present in her home.
-“Radon comes from the subsoil, it comes from the disintegration of uranium present in granite. It infiltrates through rooms closest to the ground such as cellars, but then progresses into living areas. It infiltrates through all sealing defects such as cracks or complaints.“, explains Muriel Delouvée-Gilbert, health safety technician at ARS Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
The Armorican massif and its granite soil, from which radon emanates, are present as far as Deux-Sèvres.
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© Cyril Paquier – France Télévisions
However, there is no exposure limit for individuals. “In establishments open to the public, the limit is 300 becquerels per m3 which is the maximum reference threshold.she says.
Between 300 and 1000 becquerels, you have to be concerned and beyond 1000, it's worrying!
Muriel Delouvée-Gilbert,health safety technician at ARS Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Four years ago, during the renovation work on the Exireuil school, the municipality noted the presence of radon exceeding the maximum threshold in public establishments. “Radon was detected following the replacement of the door frames. We had sealed the school, but we had not installed any ventilation. Radon levels between 300 and 1000 becquerels per m3 were detected.“, remembers the mayor, Jérôme Billerot.
So, with good help from the State, the municipality invested more than 350,000 euros. “We decided to carry out energy renovation and ventilation work for the radon and carbon dioxide which was also present“, explains the councilor. Now, students and teachers are protected.
After detecting radon during renovation work at the Exireuil school, the municipality invested in a ventilation system to protect the students.
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© Cyril Paquier – France Télévisions
Because in the majority of cases, it is enough to ventilate for the radon to dissipate. If present in the home, the ARS recommends ventilating for around ten minutes by opening the windows, morning and evening.
For residents of the municipalities of Exireuil, Soudan, but also Bressuires and Melle who are participating, the first results of this detection campaign are expected in two months.
