The nice people at the Canadian Real Estate Association have teamed up with the nice people at the Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists and Health Canada and put together “A Homeowner’s Guide to Radon” which you can get here: http://www.crea.ca/sites/default/files/A_Homeowners_Guide_to_Radon_%28CREA%29.pdf

Why are they trying to reposition radon in your mind away from the awesome Mortal Kombat champion Raiden? Because while Raiden could kill you in the game (especially if you’re playing as Bo’ Rai Cho), radon can kill you in real life.

Seriously. In the US radon testing is common in real estate transactions but here we are still going on and on about UFFI (Urea Formaldehyde Foam Insulation) which isn’t used in home insulation anymore and hasn’t for over 30 years. UFFI is nasty stuff but best estimates are that there are about 100,000 houses in Canada with UFFI or approximately 1.4 per cent of all houses in Canada.

Not to be alarmist, but a Health Canada study found that “Seven per cent of Canadians are living in homes with high radon levels” and “Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer.” Wowzers. Never even gave it much thought, did you?

The radon test runs around $250 and the remediation options are outlined in the Guide. Take a look. Get a test. Do it this winter (when radon levels are highest since you’re trying to keep the heat in and all).

Hopefully your levels come back safe and you can let out a sigh of relief as you dust off your SNES and get ready to practice your fatality moves (hint: Forward, Back, Back, Back, High Punch).