Toenails needed! Why researchers are asking for clippings

Added: 2026-06-01

[00:00:00]The University of Calgary wants your toenails to help fight cancer.

[00:00:04]Let me explain. Radon gas exposure is the top cause of lung cancer in non-smokers in Canada, which has some of the highest indoor radon levels in the world. That's thanks to the uranium in our soil, which breaks down into the radon gas that damages our lungs over time. Now, the weather plays a role here, too. Low-pressure systems can act like vacuums, sucking radon out of the soil and into your home. But, long-term exposure is actually hard to track. Even a home monitor can't actually tell you what you've absorbed. Thus, radon exposure isn't a qualifier for lung cancer screening programs. This [music] is where your toenails come in. Radon exposure isn't just about how much is in the house. It's about also how long and how much time you spend in the house.

[00:00:44]Researchers at the University of Calgary are studying how toenails could indicate long-term radon exposure. Simply put, radon decays into lead in the body, some of which is pushed out in your skin, your hair, and your toenails, which grow very slowly. So, after a successful pilot study, they're asking 10,000 Canadians to place a radon monitor in their home and then clip for the cause.

[00:01:05]The overarching goal here to develop a way to prove radon exposure levels and get high-risk Canadians into lung cancer screening programs earlier.

[00:01:12]>> Someone is diagnosed at stage four, their five-year survival comes down to 3%.

[00:01:19]>> Of course, the best person to illustrate the value of early screening is a patient. Tasim Rakheet was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in 2021.

[00:01:27]Five years later, his cancer is under control, but as he mentioned, most don't make it that long. If we can detect early, early stage, stage one, two, it could be 60-70%.

[00:01:38]We could save the 60-70% of the people.

[00:01:42]Now, one more quick note. There are parts of Canada for which the submission quota for this study have been met. So, to find out if you qualify, you can fill out an eligibility survey at evictredon.org.

[00:02:01]>> [music] >> Mhm.