Breathe Easy

The official Tumblr of the New Brunswick Lung Association

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The little ride that could! Nice #BikeForBreath2014 feature in the current Canadian Cycling Magazine! Check it out and get ready for our 2015 #GranFondo! Watch for our launch in February - http://bikeforbreath.ca @cyclingmag #Fredericton #NewBrunswick #nbwinter #cycling #roadbike #century

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Get tested: Officials with the New Brunswick Lung Association are encouraging people to test their homes for radon gas. Above, local measurement and mitigation specialist Andrew Colter of Maritime Radon Control Ltd. and Roshini Kassie, manager of community outreach for the lung association, show off one of the in-home test kits available on the market.

Photo: Adam Bowie / The Daily Gleaner

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Many Canadians unaware of the threat radon poses

Daily Gleaner

DAVID SUZUKI COMMENTARY February 5, 2015

Get tested: Officials with the New Brunswick Lung Association are encouraging people to test their homes for radon gas. Above, local measurement and mitigation specialist Andrew Colter of Maritime Radon Control Ltd. and Roshini Kassie, manager of community outreach for the lung association, show off one of the in-home test kits available on the market. Photo: Adam Bowie / The Daily Gleaner

In late January, the BC Lung Association released results of Canada’s largest-ever community-wide home radon testing project, conducted in Castlegar and Prince George, two of B.C.’s radon hot spots. In more than half the Castlegar homes tested, and one-third in Prince George, radon concentrations exceeded Health Canada’s exposure guideline.

Radon is a radioactive gas formed by the natural decay of uranium in soil and rock. It can seep into buildings through foundation cracks and other openings. Without proper ventilation, radon concentrations in indoor air can reach dangerous levels. 

"Radon exposure is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.
David Suzuki"

You can’t see, smell or taste it, so it’s easy to ignore. But radon exposure is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, responsible for 16 per cent of lung cancer deaths in Canada. According to the BC Lung Association, a person exposed to high levels of radon has a one in 20 lifetime chance of developing lung cancer. Smokers face increased risks, with a one in three lifetime chance of developing lung cancer if they’re also exposed to high radon levels.

The good news is that in most cases it’s fairly easy to lower indoor radon concentrations. Certified professionals can help identify how radon is entering the building, seal cracks and install specialized venting. This typically costs between $500 and $3,000. (A number of organizations, including the David Suzuki Foundation, have recommended a tax credit to make radon mitigation more affordable.)

As BC Lung Association CEO Scott McDonald said recently, “The problem is too few British Columbians know what radon is, where it comes from and how to fix a problem in your home if you have one.”

I’m one of the many British Columbians – and Canadians – who hadn’t thought about testing radon levels in my house. But it’s never too late and I’m starting a test now. I’ll keep you posted.

There are two ways to test indoor radon concentrations. You can buy a one-time test kit for $25 to $30 from many hardware stores or businesses specializing in radon detection and mitigation, or online from the BC Lung Association. It comes with instructions on how to send the detector to a laboratory for analysis. The lab will calculate your average radon concentration. Some certified radon professionals also sell electronic continuous radon monitors, which show weekly and monthly average concentrations on a digital display.

Indoor radon levels can vary wildly from day to day or even hour to hour, as well as seasonally. Concentrations are generally higher in winter and at night, when windows and doors are closed. Health Canada recommends running a radon test over a minimum of three months, during fall or winter. The average concentration detected over a three-month test can be used to determine if a home’s radon concentration exceeds the Canadian guideline level of 200 becquerels per cubic metre. (A becquerel, or Bq, is a standard measure of radioactivity named after French physicist Henri Becquerel.)

While some areas, like Castlegar and Prince George, are prone to high concentrations of indoor radon, Health Canada emphasizes that no areas of the country are radon-free. A 2012 Health Canada study indicates that 6.9 per cent of Canadians live in homes with radon levels above the guideline but, “The only way to know if a home has an elevated level of radon is to test, regardless of location.” Carcinogen research project Carex Canada has an online map illustrating the percentage of home radon measurements across Canada above the Health Canada guideline.

Even if your home tests below Health Canada’s guideline level, you might want to explore mitigation options. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has a lower guideline of 148 Bq/m3 and the World Health Organization recommends 100 Bq/m3. There is no safe level of radon exposure, and the risk of lung cancer increases by 16 per cent for every 100 Bq/m3 increase in lifetime average radon concentration.

If you’re like me and have put off taking action on radon, start with a test. If the test shows you need to mitigate, find a certified radon professional near you at http://c-nrpp.ca/.

Governments should also test radon levels in public buildings, like schools and hospitals, as recommended in the David Suzuki Foundation’s 2007 report, Radon: The Unfamiliar Killer.

For more information, visit takeactiononradon.ca or radonaware.ca.

Written with contributions from David Suzuki Foundation Senior Researcher and Analyst Lisa Gue.

David Suzuki is a Canadian environmental activist and academic. His column runs on Fridays.

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Switch out that old wood stove – New Brunswick incentive program launched

ADAM HURAS Legislature Bureau January 22, 2015

The New Brunswick Lung Association, with the support of the provincial government, is offering financial incentives as part of a New Brunswick-wide push to eliminate the use of old wood stoves. The program aims to reduce environmental and health effects of residential wood heat. above is Brad Wood of Sunpoke in Fredericton.

Photo: James West/The Daily Gleaner

The provincial government is backing a New Brunswick-wide push to extinguish the use of old wood stoves – with financial incentives being offered up to ignite the change.

The program – led by the New Brunswick Lung Association – aims to reduce environmental and health effects of residential wood heat.

Old wood-burning appliances are also inefficient, the program aiming to reduce the cost of heating for homeowners by swapping in newer models.

The call for change is a large one.

Roughly 30 per cent of the province’s roughly 248,000 residential homes heat using wood.

Industry officials then estimate that upwards of 80 per cent of wood stoves in the province don’t meet Environmental Protection Agency or even Canadian Standards Association standards.

A $250 incentive is now being offered to facilitate mass upgrades.

“When people think of the lung association, they think tobacco, asthma, and other types of lung disease,” said association vice president Arthur Thomson. “But what people don’t always consider is the importance of indoor and outdoor air quality to lung health.”

The lung association states that residential wood burning is a leading cause of particulate emissions in New Brunswick, accounting for 65 per cent of all particulate matter in the air during winter.

The call for change also comes as other provinces are currently revising their emissions standards for solid fuel appliances in efforts to snuff out the use of old models.

While New Brunswick has no plans for similar rules, Environment Minister Brian Kenny states that it’s becoming increasingly difficult for New Brunswickers to get fire insurance with old stoves in place.

“There is no set legislation,” Kenny said. “But if you are going to be a homeowner, most homeowners have to have fire insurance.

“Your company will mandate you to make sure that it’s certified.”

He added: “If people are going for a renewal on their insurance, nine times out of 10 their old stove may not pass the test.”

The wood stove change-out program – which will also include pellet stoves and open-hearth fireplaces – will use a two-pronged approach to facilitate the change.

A series of “master burning” workshops laying out how New Brunswickers can improve the efficiency of residential wood heat have been scheduled across the province.

Financial incentives to purchase a newer EPA certified wood stove will also be offered until the end of March.

To register, visit nb.lung.ca/woodstoves or call 1-800-565-LUNG.

The $250 comes solely from a negotiated deal with manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and installers.

Two municipalities have also topped up the incentive.

An extra $50 – increasing the rebate to $300 – is available in Grand Bay-Westfield and Grand Falls.

The provincial government is then dipping into the province’s Environmental Trust Fund to administer the program at a cost of roughly $20,000.

The cheapest stove available that qualifies for the program costs roughly $700, the average stove costing upwards of $1,500.

“A lot of these stoves are so clean that they will omit less smoke than a cigarette will,” Energy Technology Transfer New Brunswick board member Brad Wood.

That association promotes the safe and effective use of wood-burning systems across the country.

The project has a modest target of swapping 100 stoves.

That would reduce greenhouse gas emissions 4.7 metric tonnes, also reducing the need for fuel wood by 97 hectares of forest.

“But there’s no limit on the program,” said lung association program co-ordinator Larry Tannahill said. “We would be happy to change every uncertified stove in the province this year. “And perhaps if we get the opportunity next year as well.”

Tannahill added: “The incentive is there to perhaps push people who are borderline thinking of getting a new stove to upgrade.”

Switching can reduce wood consumption by a third while reducing emissions by up to 90 per cent.

“A lot of customers rely on the wood stove to be their supply of heat for the winter,” said Andy Connors of Classic Stoves and Fireplaces. “The cost saving over heating with hydro, or with oil, gas, are tremendous.”

The average home burns through three cords of wood a year at the cost of $750.

“A lot of people have old vintage stoves and are happy with them, but if they could trade up to something where they would use 30 per cent less wood with longer burn times, it’s an incentive,” he said.

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#ThowBackThursday here it is the right way around #tbt #NewBrunswick #lunghealth

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#ThowBackThursday - how well can you read backwards? I came across this item this afternoon. It is our official seal from the 1920's when we we known as "The New Brunswick Tuberculosis and Respiratory Disease Association" - say that 3 times fast! :) #tbt #NewBrunswick #lunghealth

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Check it - a great look at a charity bike ride! The New Brunswick Lung Association's 2014 Bike for Breath was a great success and a great time was had by all!

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DAILY GLEANER

Saturday, October 24, 2014

Some races are all about the ride [email protected]  

Departure of the 125km Road Trek Riders at th 2014 Bike for Breath. Photo By: Film Grain Photography

Bike ‍for ‍Breath is all over ‍for this year, and what a successful year it has been.By all accounts everyone had a great time. This was most evident in the ballroom of the Crowne Plaza, where participants took part in a complimentary beer-tasting ‍for their efforts as they honoured their best. Barb MacKinnon was a gracious host, sharing her success with all of her diligent workers, volunteers and sponsors who went to great lengths to make everyone feel like a part of something that is important and growing every year. As much fun as we all had at the closing ceremonies, the real treat was a day of friendship and camaraderie that started at 9:30 a.m. and lasted until the last cyclist arrived back at 5:30 p.m. Each of the three rides had a sweep team that followed up the last riders with a paramedic,search-and-rescue volunteer and a shotgun mechanic, courtesy of Capital City Cycles.  Although there were not many break-downs, we did inflate a lot of tires, adjusted some brakes and even replaced a complete handlebar assembly, cables and all, that occurred at the last minute. Lacy Hunter, a mechanic on board ‍for the 60-kilometre run was part of a group that went in search of one missing rider, who was found buying produce at Harvey’s Big Potato, and Matt Johnson was part of a group that located a straggler taking fall pictures in Gagetown. We really don’t take the race part too seriously anyway. It’s all about the ride. Thank goodness that it’s all about the ride, ‍for me in particular. I was quickly made aware that a summer of writing columns, fixing ‍bikes and running a berry farm in the country left me little time to cycle as much as I should have. My day was pretty good up until the 1:30 takeoff ‍for the 17km crowd, but I was very quickly bringing up the rear of the pack, accompanied by a very patient Barb MacKinnon who was acting as the sweep ‍for our group. With about four kilometres to go, I told Barb to go ahead and I would catch up at my own (snail’s) pace. The weather was indescribably beautiful – the fall colours contrasted by the white birch and the St. John River was glorious. Who could blame anyone ‍for slowing down a little and drinking in the beauty that this great city has to offer? I will not be last next year, but I will be there definitely. See you on the trails.

DORIAN BEGGS is a biking enthusiast. he can be reached at [email protected]  

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Woman with cystic fibrosis counts her blessings, helps others

BY: ADAM BOWIE Fredericton Daily Gleaner September 28, 2014

The New Brunswick Lung Association held its 2014 Bike For Breath fundraiser Sunday with routes ranging from 17 to 125 kilometres in length. Above, Krystal Freake takes part in Sunday’s 17 km route. Photo: James West/The Daily Gleaner.

Some people may have a difficult time believing that Krystal Freake lives with cystic fibrosis. The 25-year-old Fredericton resident was diagnosed with the recessive genetic disorder, which mostly affects the lungs and can make it extremely difficult to breathe, when she was a toddler. But she lives an incredibly active life, playing hockey whenever she can, working in the gym at the Richard J. Currie Center and hiking with friends. On Sunday, she participated in the New Brunswick Lung Association’s 2014 Bike for Breath fundraiser, a charity bike ride that gathers critical financial support for the association’s Asthma Camp for Kids and its Lung Transplant Support Program. This was the second time Freake participated in the event, joining dozens of riders who collected donations toward the effort over the past few weeks and who peddled one of three routes on Sunday that ranged from 17 to 125 kilometres. She said she does it to raise awareness about the disease, pay tribute to the friends she’s lost to the illness, and to help support others who are fighting the good fight. “It’s another way I can give back and be active at the same time,” she said. Freake has been fortunate to enjoy a pretty healthy childhood. “I’d never been admitted (to hospital) for CF until I was in Grade 9,” she said. “Until then, I’d have the odd cold or whatever, just like any other kid. I’d stay home a few days to get over it and I’d bounce back and be normal again.” It wasn’t until she reached Grade 11 that she began to encounter more serious health problems. “I had a few more hospital admissions. Things were rough. But then I went to university and things got better again,” she said. However, toward the end of her degree, she began to experience problems with her sinuses, a common affliction for cystic fibrosis patients. “And my lungs were getting infections pretty regularly,” she said. “I spent my last year of university trying to fight through this while trying to finish my degree. There were some hospital admissions. I managed to fight through it with a lot of help from my (professors), who gave me extensions on projects, things like that.” She played soccer, took swimming lessons and tried dance classes. But her real passion has always been hockey. Want to know how dedicated she is to Canada’s game? When she fell ill in Grade 11, and had to complete some antibiotic treatments, she was forced to sit out a number of games. But when the treatments were close to the end, she began to feel better.

The New Brunswick Lung Association held its 2014 Bike for Breath fundraiser Sunday with routes ranging from 17 to 125 kilometres in length. Above, participants head out on the 17-kilometre route. Photo: James West/The Daily Gleaner

The New Brunswick Lung Association held its 2014 Bike for Breath fundraiser Sunday with routes ranging from 17 to 125 kilometres in length. Above, from left, Nancy Edgar, Helen Hayward, Jill Mersereau and Andrew Scott take a group photo before heading out on the 17-kilometre route. Photo: James West/The Daily Gleaner

Since her hockey team was about to begin playing for the provincial title, she asked her specialist if she could take the ice alongside her teammates. “For me, it’s my obsession. I love playing. So I asked him if I could play with my IV still in. He said, ‘It’s up to you. How do you feel? I don’t know how you feel at this point. You seem fine,’ ” she said. “My mother was our trainer on the team. She’s there on the bench and she’s a nurse. If something were to happen, she’d be there. So I managed to play the provincial games. And when we had to travel, I (received my) IV treatments on the bus. My mom had them running the old-school way, with the drip. I had my IV and then we played the game. Some people were like, ‘I cannot believe you did that.’ ” Freake mentors teens with cystic fibrosis through a special Facebook page, answering questions about different treatments and offering advice on how to deal with the stresses of frequent hospital visits. And she encourages them to stay active, when they’re feeling well. “I’ve been pretty lucky with my cystic fibrosis,” she said, explaining that participating in these kinds of fundraising efforts helps to educate the public about her condition and help support those going through treatments. “It’s also something I’m trying to do for my future. It’s giving back, but it also helps myself. I’m not trying to be selfish, but it’s a good thing to work on this stuff.” Barb MacKinnon, the president and CEO of the New Brunswick Lung Association, was happy to see people like Freake come out and support the cause. “We’re really happy with the turnout because we probably doubled our turnout (from) last year,” MacKinnon said. Last year’s Bike for Breath drew in 75 people. This year, they saw 150. With the larger amount of riders registered, MacKinnon hoped the fundraising goal would be surpassed. “Our goal this year is $15,000 and before Friday we’d more than surpassed halfway,” she said. Even though most of the funds were raised through registration, McKinnon said many riders who were involved in Sunday’s event are going to continue to fundraise after they are done riding the trail. “People can continue to donate after the event, so we’re hoping to surpass our goal,” said MacKinnon. More information about the fundraising effort, and the programs it supports, is available at bikeforbreath.ca.

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Our 125km crew #BikeForBreath2014 #nbfall #Fredericton #NewBrunswick

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Part 2 of the #Picaroons prizes for the #BikeForBreath2014 - a growler bike cage and hydro flask growler! Perfect for the #craftbeer #cyclist !! #bike #nbfall #NewBrunswick #Fredericton

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Ok, we've got 2 more prizes for #BikeForBreath2014 that will appeal to ALL the #craftbeer lovers out there! The first is pictured here - an awesome pair of #Picaroons glasses, a set of wood Picaroons coasters, and a genuine Picaroons bar towel! Stay tuned cuz there's more! #bike #Fredericton #NewBrunswick #nbfall

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Another great reason to Bike for Breath this Sunday...as if you needed one ;) #BikeForBreath2014 #nbfall #Fredericton #NewBrunswick #bike

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Prize set 2 from Savages Bicycle Center - men's jersey, a Rev 17 Function wireless cycle computer and a specialized water bottle! #BikeForBreath2014 #bike #nbfall #NewBrunswick

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Prize set 1 from Savages Bicycle Center - ladies jersey, a Rev 17 Function wireless cycle computer and a specialized water bottle! #BikeForBreath2014 #bike #nbfall #NewBrunswick

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The #BikeForBreath2014 prizes keep rolling in! Check out this super cool Caravan Collective tee and Pearl water bottle from our friends at the @radedge ! Sign up today at http://bikeforbreath.ca #bike #NBSummer #nbfall #Fredericton #newbrunswick

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Three more reason to Bike for Breath! Thanks to our sponsor #ClifBar for the awesome energy snaks! The Builder Bars and #LunaBars are sure to be a hit! #BikeForBreath2014 #bike #Fredericton #NewBrunswick #nbfall