A radioactive gas that poses serious health risks has a strong presence in the southwest, according to statistics from Health Canada.

The federal agency is advising that Swift Current residents test their homes for radon, a naturally occurring gas known to cause lung cancer.

Sandy Hutchison, the regional radiation specialist for Saskatchewan-Manitoba with Health Canada, emphasized that it's not a matter of if homes have radon, but rather how much.

"Once it gets into the home you cannot see, smell or taste it," he said. "Really, there is no defined health impact until lung cancer is diagnosed, and for that you're going to feel that chronic cough, perhaps coughing up blood, chest pain--that is lung cancer. That's not just breathing radon." 

Explained as a breakdown of uranium found in soil, radon is in a gas form, making it quite mobile. Once it infiltrates buildings, homes, schools, workplaces, it can accumulate to higher levels and present a significant health risk. 

According to Hutchison, their goal is to prevent radon-induced lung cancer, as it's the only known health affect associated with the gas. 

Health Canada conducted test nation-wide, and results showed that a concerning 25 per cent of homes in the southwest corner of the province exceeded the guideline levels for radon. The only way to determine the potency is by testing.

"You want to use an approved test kit, and Health Canada recommends testing for a period of 91 days," added Hutchison. "Because radon does peak and valley even with weather changes outside or occupant behaviors such as opening windows, fan use, exhaust fan use...so the longer measurement will even out those peaks and valleys and give you a number that you can compare to the Canadian guideline for radon and indoor air. And we're looking for a number that's at 200 becquerels per cubic meter or below."

Affordable testing kits can be found at test4radon.ca. Once received, tests should be left out in a lived area of the home for a period of 91 days. After the three months, the kit is sent to Health Canada for testing in the laboratory for results.