Rural Ontario man finds high levels of radioactive gas in new home — wants others to check
Radon is an odourless, invisible, radioactive gas naturally released from rocks, soil and water that can seep into homes through small cracks and holes that build up over time.
It’s also the second-leading cause of lung cancer deaths after cigarettes, according to the Canadian Lung Association (CLA). Radon exposure is estimated to be the cause of 16 per cent of lung cancers.
“It’s extremely difficult to heal, so what happens is when we breathe in radon at sufficient levels it damages the DNA in our lungs and leads to genetic mutations,” said Dr. Aaron Goodarzi, a professor at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine.
Kids, he said, are at an even higher risk because they have a longer life expectancy.
Goodarzi, who’s also the scientific director of the Evict Radon National Study, said genetic mutations can take anywhere from 10 to 30 years to develop — meaning there’s more potential for children exposed to radon to develop lung cancer in their lives.
Radon gas can be found in any home that has contact with the ground; however, rural communities across the country have a 30 per cent increased risk of high levels, according to Goodarzi.
The amount of time you spend in the home, and for how many years, can also factor into the chances of you getting lung cancer, he said. |Read more https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/cedar-springs-radon-gas-1.7156915| cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/ced…
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