Radon Gas
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Another 20,000 homes at risk from radon gas
A new mapping exercise by the National Radiological Protection Board showed that of the 100,000 homes likely to be at risk, 20 per cent are outside previously identified radon areas. The new areas, where more than one per cent of homes are expected to be above the Government's action level for radiation of 200 Becquerels per cubic metre of air, are: Avon, Cumbria, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northumberland, North Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, and Wiltshire. In some, up to 30 per cent of homes are thought to be at risk. Mapping is still going on in Scotland and Wales. The very latest maps and information are available here
Radon Gas is the second biggest cause of lung cancer after smoking
Radon is a natural radioactive gas. You cannot see, hear, feel or taste it. It comes from the minute amounts of uranium that occur naturally in all rocks and soils.
Radon is present in all parts of the UK, although the gas disperses outdoors so levels are generally very low.
We all breathe it in throughout our lives - for most UK residents, radon accounts for half of their total annual radiation dosage.
However, geological conditions in certain areas can lead to higher than average levels. Some of the highest radon levels have been found in the southwest, but levels well above average have been found in many other parts of the UK. Exposure to particularly high levels of radon may increase the risk of developing lung cancer.
The map above shows where higher and lower levels of Radon can typically be found.
Radon Testing
We can carry out both short term and long term tests in your home. If you are considering buying a new home in a higher risk area (see above), we can carry out the tests to ensure the safety of you and your family. E-Mail for more information