Living in a province with one of the highest amounts of uranium in the world may have an adverse effect on residents' health, but there's no way of knowing for sure unless radon levels are tested in homes. According to a cross-Canada survey conducted by Health Canada in 2009-10, Saskatchewan has one of the highest levels of radon in the country.
Radon is a colourless, odourless gas which is produced by the breakdown of uranium in soil. While it does not pose any health risks outdoors, in a confined space a build-up of the gas has been associated with an increased risk of lung cancer.
Since new evidence was discovered between radon and the risk of cancer in 2007, the Ministry of Health has been working in collaboration with health regions throughout the province to encourage residents to test their homes for the gas, which can enter a house through cracks in foundations and openings in basements.
"It's a good practice to be testing the air quality in your home, because radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer – second only to smoking," explained Tim Macaulay, director of environmental health with the Ministry of Health.
Dr. David Torr, consulting medical health officer for Cypress Health Region, said that while it has been reported there are high concentrations of uranium in the Southwest there has never been any clear-cut evidence radon is a higher concern here.
"There's just no pattern to radon," he stated. "We know there's radon under the earth, but it really depends on the pathway that it takes up. We haven't really seen anything yet that says in Town X there's a tremendous amount of radon."
Radon levels are mainly dependent on the type of soil found under a residence and how easily the gas can enter a basement, Torr said.
"You can have one house next to another and one has high levels and the other has minimal," he explained.
Torr has heard concerns from people of the possibility that radon is causing more cases of cancer in the region, but he said it is difficult to determine if the gas is the reason.
"I haven't seen any concrete evidence on that," he stated. "It's a tough (correlation) to outline. I don't think there's been enough study or evidence yet to determine if (radon) is definitely linked in."
Basements with a lot of cracks and poor ventilation run a greater risk of having higher radon levels, Torr said.
"If it's got open cracks... and you have a bedroom near that, you would more likely want to test in that kind of situation," he stated.
Residents may test the radon levels in their homes using 48-hour or 90-day test kits. Because the levels can vary over time, the Ministry of Health encourages the use of 90-day tests for a more accurate reading. Cost of test kits start at about $50. Once complete, the tests can be sent to the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) Analytical Laboratories for analysis.
For houses with radon levels high enough to be a concern, there are various methods homeowners can use to reduce the concentrations of the gas. Sealing cracks in basements floors and walls is the easiest way to prevent radon from entering a home. If high levels persist, ventilation can be increased through the use of a pump to draw air out of a house.
While Health Canada conducted its first study of radon levels in homes across the country in 2009-10, a second study was performed in 2010-11, with the results to be published this year. Data from the study will be used to identify areas most at risk and promote radon protection in those places.
To order a 48-hour or 90-day radon test kit from the SRC Analytical Laboratories, call 1-800-240-8808 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .