Can your toenails tell a story about your lung cancer risk?

At 47, Emi Bossio was a busy attorney, mother of two, and living a healthy lifestyle. She had never smoked and stayed active — until a persistent cough led to a diagnosis that changed everything: lung cancer. Like many people who have never smoked, Bossio was left wondering why.

That question led her to the work of Dr. Aaron Goodarzi, a researcher at the University of Calgary studying how environmental factors like radon contribute to lung cancer. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas and the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. Yet, because it’s invisible and odorless, most people have no idea how much they’ve been exposed to over time.

Goodarzi and his team are testing a new way to measure that exposure — through toenail clippings. Their research shows that toenails hold traces of radioactive lead from radon exposure, offering a unique record of what the body has absorbed. The findings could help shape future screening programs and improve prevention for people who don’t fit the traditional risk profile for lung cancer.

Read the full story from the University of Calgary

Learn more about Radon and how to test your home: