A new study from the University of Calgary Cummings School of Medicine has indicated a carcinogenic gas is prevalent throughout homes in Southern Alberta, including High River and Okotoks.

Radon is a naturally occurring gas that arises from the decay of uranium bearing minerals in the soil which are common throughout the prairie provinces. It enters the soil at high pressures and seeks the path of least resistance upwards. Typically if homes are above that, radon will accumulate in basements and spread throughout the rest of the home.

After testing radon levels 194 homes in Okotoks and High River, the school found 1 in 8 homes were above Health Canada's acceptable levels.

Assistant professor at Cummings School of Medicine Dr. Aaron Goodarzy says high radon levels can cause serious health issues.

"Radon itself is radioactive, and very rapidly will decay into compounds that continue to emit radiation. If that happens within our lungs radon will precipitate inside and emit a type of radiation called Alpha radiation. This is dangerous for human health, because it produces a nasty kind of DNA damage which givess rise to mutations which will ultimately drive cancer formation."

In fact, one of the most typical causes of lung cancer is high radon exposure, Dr. Goodarzy recommends residents in Okotoks test for levels in their home.

"The test is simple and straightforward, as long as the test is from a certified professional you're guaranteed to have a good device...You simply place the device in your house for 90 days in the winter heating months from October to the end of April."

There are ways to mitigate accumulation of the gas, depending one where it is coming from, Goodarzy adds most fixes are simple and inexpensive.

You can get a radon tester and read more about the study here.

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