Radon is a colourless, odourless gas that can seep undetected into your home and is the second leading cause of lung cancer.

Due to the weather, radon gas is highly prevalent across the prairies and presents a potentially high risk to Alberta residents.

Dr. Aaron Goodarzi of the U of C’s Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, is working on a research study that involves Alberta residents participating in radon testing in their homes.

"What we are doing at the moment, are two things really, one is of course a general public awareness campaign to bring this to light - that the prairie provinces are at risk for this. We're trying also to get a picture of what percentage of our homes are particularly at risk."

Radon gas is produced naturally by the breakdown of uranium in the ground. When the gases are released naturally in an outdoor environment it is diluted and will not cause any harm, but it is harmful when it is confined in a sealed home as major health concerns then become a risk.

"Soil gas containing radon will look for the path of least resistance upwards and generally that is our basements," said Goodarzi. "Because our homes are well insulated it tends to accumulate in homes, particularly during the winter heating months, when we are heating our houses and as we all know hot air rises and as hot air rises in our houses it actually creates a sort of suction effect, from the lower levels upwards and that actually pulls radon from the soil into our homes."

As radon gas is inhaled over the years, it starts to genetically alter the DNA in our lungs.

"Radon is particularly damaging to our DNA, in the DNA of our lungs what happens is that DNA damages our cells, attempts to repair that can actually result in genetic mutations and it's those mutations that underlie why radon equates with a cancer risk."

Goodarzi said that as the tissue mutates it can cause lung cancer in a person who has never smoked a day in their life.

The testing for radon is recommended to be done during the winter months, from approximately October until the end of April.

To participate in Goodarzi's study, there is a $45 fee for the test kit and lab testing. 

Learn more about the study or participate in Goodarzi's research here.

Leah Crawford - airdrienews@goldenwestradio.com