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PROTECT YOURSELF FROM RADON EXPOSURE "One in four homes in Manitoba have high radon levels," she says. "Radon is a serious health risk in your home, as well as in the workplace, schools, and other buildings. Yet, many people don't know much about it." Here's what you should know. First, radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally as the uranium found in rock and soil breaks down. Second, radon is invisible, tasteless, and odorless, making it incredibly difficult to detect. When released outdoors, fresh air and wind dilute it, rendering it relatively harmless. However, it becomes a severe issue indoors. Without anywhere to go, radon gas – without anyone knowing it – can build up. That build-up occurs most commonly in our home, the place where we (especially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic) spend much of our time working and relaxing. "Radon levels are unique to each home," Coleman explains. "It can come up through cracks in your basement floor, through the areas around sump pumps, or even through the water during a shower if you have a well." She adds that while radon gas build- up can be dangerous in older homes, it can also reach toxic levels in new homes. "Because newer homes were designed with tighter building envelopes to be more energy-efficient, they keep more air in. That can lead to a greater concentration of radon in the home." As statistics are now showing, the consequences of long-term radon exposure can be deadly. "Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer of non-smokers, and the second overall leading cause of lung cancer of smokers," she notes. "Non- smokers exposed to high radon levels have a one-in-20 chance of developing lung cancer, while smokers are at much greater risk with a one-in-three chance of ge ing it." How can long-term radon exposure be avoided? Simple: buy an easy-to- use kit to get your home tested. It's a worthwhile investment, says Coleman. "That's the only way you'll know if it has high radon levels. Just order it online, and it will be delivered right to your mailbox for just $65 plus tax," she says, adding that radon testing is best done during the winter when your home is tightly closed up. The detector setup is easy, with follow-along instructions provided in the kit. Place the small testing sensor in the area you spend the most time in, either downstairs or on the main floor of your home. Once it's set up, leave the sensor in place – in a bedroom, media area, or family room – an area where you spend at least four hours per day - and let it do its work. After three months elapse – that's how long the test takes – all you have to do is mail it off to the testing laboratory in Saskatchewan using the pre-paid label that comes with the kit (shipping is free!). "If it shows that your home has high levels of radon, Health Canada recommends one to two years to put a mitigation system in," she says, adding that the cost of a system runs from $1,500 to $2,500. "The most important thing is that you'll be protecting the long-term health of your family. You can't put a price tag on that." To order your test kit today, please visit mb.lung.ca; if you have a question about radon, email info@mb.lung.ca or call 204-774-5501. Pretty much everyone knows that Manitoba is a summer vacation hot spot. Many people don't know that Manitoba is also a hot spot for radon gas exposure, says Hailey Coleman, Radon Awareness Coordinator for the Lung Association, Manitoba. "How can long-term radon exposure be avoided? Simple: buy an easy-to-use kit to get your home tested. It's a worthwhile investment." BY TODD LEWYS

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