The Cypress Health Region is encouraging homeowners to properly test their homes and become aware of its radon levels.


Radon is a gas and is a breakdown product of uranium and when radon itself breaks down it can release radioactive particles which can pose a danger to a person's health if inhaled.


Dr. David Torr, Consulting Medical Health Officer for the Cypress Health Region explains how this gas gets into the home.


"It comes in through cracks in basements or in the floor structure that's in contact with the ground and it can come in through those cracks and accumulate."


Uranium is located within the ground and when it breaks down, the radon is pushed up to the surface of the ground. In open air radon can be diluted but it can also travel through cracks in floor structures in contact with the ground.


According to Dr. Torr, there can be more risk as during this time many stay within their house and there is minimal free circulating air so radon has the opportunity to accumulate. Waterways can also transport the gas in water. Sub pumps can release a high amount of radon or it can also just be present in the water underground, especially if it is from a well.


Dr. Torr adds that there are items for sale that can provide continuous radon levels or a radon test kit can be purchased from the Saskatchewan Disease Control Laboratory.


Radon is heavier then air and does not move very freely so it tends to accumulate in the lowest part of the house. However, it can also be recirculated throughout the house through the use of heating and ventilation systems.
Radon testing kits should be placed in the lowest part of the house for one to three months. The kit is then tested for its exposure to radon.


A national study done by Health Canada between 2009-2011, showed seven percent of households across the country on average had more than acceptable levels of radon. Numbers were even higher in Saskatchewan at sixteen percent and higher still within the Cypress region at twenty six percent.


This increase within the region can most likely be attributed to the fact that there are particularly high levels of uranium present within our soil and so the risk of radon levels in our homes is increased.


If radon is inhaled and breaks down in the lungs it can cause damage to the lung cells or even lead to lung cancer.


Radon itself can break down and when it does it releases radioactive particles which can be a danger to one's health and may even lead to lung cancer.


Dr.Torr says smokers may be at an even bigger risk.


"Roughly about sixteen percent of lung cancers in this province being attributable to radon alone. If you are not a smoker and you have radon exposure, there is a sixteen percent chance of getting lung cancer. If you are actually a smoker and have additional radon, then the risk multiplies by quite a significant amount."


Dr. Torr adds in regards to just radon exposure alone there is a one in twenty chance that someone will develop lung cancer. For those that smoke and are exposed to radon the statistics become one in three.


According to the World Health Organization there is really no reasonably safe level of radon. Levels of two hundred and below should cause people to be cautious and if levels are over two hundred actions should be taken. A level of eight hundred is considered to be a high risk.