In 2012 Health Canada released a report about Radon Gas in Canada.

Radon gas is a tasteless order less gas that is produced from decaying uranium.

The report gave specific information on the cause of Radon Gas and its effects on the human body.

Dr. David Torr is the Consulting Medical Health Officer for the Cypress Health Region. He explained what the cause of the gas is and why it's important to know what its effects are.

"Radon is a gas that is a byproduct from Uranium. It's a radioactive gas, it can cause damage (to humans). In human beings, the damage that has been found so far is in the mostly with the lung membranes, it is a factor in lung cancer or a causation for lung cancer, and it's the second largest factor after smoking that can contribute to lung cancer," Dr. Torr said.        

In the Southwest, approximately 1 in 4 homes are reading high levels of Radon.
"In the 2012 report done by Health Canada, they did some testing in some households across the country. They found radon enhanced uranium pretty much across the whole country. They found about 7% of households that had higher levels than recommended. In Saskatchewan that percentage was higher it was 16%, and in Cypress Health Region it was even higher than the 16% provincially it was 25%," he said. 

Cracks in the foundation of houses, sump pump pits, and spaces around electrical piping are a few of the ways the gas can get into a house.