Radon: How to test your home [Video]

Radon is a radioactive gas found in nearly every Canadian home. A new research study is putting a renewed spotlight on the invisible, odourless element that is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in Canada.

Researchers from the University of Calgary compiled radon readings from 75,000 urban and rural residential buildings. The countrywide study found that an estimated 10.3 million Canadians live in homes with levels above Health Canada’s guidelines.

There are multiple ways to combat Radon in your home. Tests are available for purchase through Canada’s government portal. You can also hire a professional to survey your home. If your levels are high, radon reduction strategies are recommended. This includes having a system installed in your home that pulls the radioactive gas out of your house.

Radon forms naturally when radioactive metals break down in rocks, soil and groundwater. Exposure comes from breathing in the gas that leaks through …