Here at Onlia, we’ve partnered with Setter, a Toronto-based technology company. If you have a home and auto policy with Onlia, they’re providing a free home safety checkup; a digital experience that helps homeowners identify and mitigate risks. They break down what you should be aware of, the risks of poor indoor air quality, and how you can improve it.
What should you know?
Radon
While uranium in soil and rock decays, radioactive gas is released into the air. This radon gas accumulates in basements and lower floors of homes, and while there is no known safe level of exposure, lung cancer risks increase with greater levels of exposure. In fact, 25% of homes across Ontario have radon levels above World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, and are responsible for ~14% of all lung cancer in Ontario.
Carbon Dioxide
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is a colourless gas and another naturally occurring chemical compound present in the Earth’s atmosphere. It organically stems from volcanic outgassing, the combustion of organic matter and the respiration processes of living aerobic organisms. Low concentrations are not harmful outdoors, but because humans are the primary source of indoor CO2, indoor concentrations can skyrocket with poor ventilation. Scholars at Berkeley found a significant impact on a wide range of cognitive functions, like decision-making.
