Here at propertECO we offer a wide range of radon testing kits including both passive and digital radon monitors to be used in the home or at your place of work.

Take a look at our infographic below and educate yourself on the dangers of radon and how to avoid its adverse effects on your health.

Radon is a radioactive gas that we can’t see, smell, or taste. Therefore, a special test kit is required to detect it. These are inexpensive and easy to order online.

Radon comes from the rocks and soil found everywhere in the UK. The radon level in the air we breathe outside is very low, but can be higher inside buildings.

Radon is responsible for causing an estimated 1,100 deaths from lung cancer each year in the UK.

Risks Involved

We are all exposed to radiation – from natural and man-made resources. Without knowing it, for most people, radon accounts for 50% of their overall lifetime radiation exposure.

– 50% Radon gas from the ground.

– 13.5% Gamma rays from the ground and buildings

– 12% Cosmic rays

– 10% Food and drink

– 14% Medical

How Radon Affects your Health

As radon decays, it emits alpha particles that can cause lung cancer.

– Radon sticks to dust and aerosols in the air.

– Particles radiate into the lungs and damage tissues.

– Alpha particles are 100 times more likely to cause cancer than other types of radiation.

Risk Factors

Radon increases the risk of lung cancer and the higher the radon, the greater the exposure and thus the greater the risk.

Lifetime risk of developing lung cancer:

Radon-Related Deaths

– The risk is greater for smokers and ex-smokers as there is a synergistic effect, however radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.

– Smokers choose to smoke, despite knowing the risks. Nobody chooses to live in a building with high radon levels; most are unaware of the risks.

Radon entry into buildings

– Radon comes from the ground, and enters a building via the surfaces in contact with the ground.

– Some radon will passively infiltrate into the building, for example through cracks in the foundations and gaps around pipes. Radon can also pass through certain materials, even those which provide an adequate barrier to water penetration.

– The main mechanism through which radon enters a property is advection. This is the movement of the gas from the soil to the lowest point of pressure, which is usually inside the building. This means that the gas is being ‘sucked’ from the ground into the building, and the greater this pressure difference is, the faster the rate at which the gas is drawn inside.

Radon in Workplaces

In office spaces, radon can be the biggest occupational health risk.

– Employers are required by law to assess any risks to their staff while at work.

– This should include potential radon exposure and testing is required in any workplace premises that are located in a designated ‘affected area’ or have a basement.

Public Health England (PHE) recommends five points to ensure a healthy environment for office premises near radon affected areas.

– Measurement: Ensuring proper tests for radon concentrations on the ground floor and occupied basements.

– Surveillance:Until the remedial action is complete, the monitoring should be continued.

– Risk Assessment: Set priorities for action based on radon levels

– Mitigation: Remedial action within six months

– Maintenance:Periodic testing and routine checks

Methods to Reduce High  Radon Levels at Home

– Positive Pressure Ventilation. Positive pressure systems bring clean, fresh air into the building and inhibit radon being drawn in via advection by altering the pressure difference between the building and the ground

– Radon Sump. A radon sump is a small void created beneath a building, which acts as a collection point for the gas. Pipework and a fan are then installed to vent the gas safely away from the building.

– Cellars and Basements. Cellars and basements can be more complex to remediate and a combination of techniques, including positive pressure, sumps and sometimes special membranes may be required.

Facts

– Exposure to radon is the 2nd leading cause of lung cancer in the UK.

– The number of homes designated at risk has increased from an estimated 100,000 in 2010 to over 500,000 today. This is due to the introduction of the Target Level of 100 Bq/m3. Most homes in the UK have fairly low radon levels, with an average of about 20 Bq/m3. Some have levels much higher, though, and without testing there is no way to know…

Do you know if you’re being exposed to high radon levels? It’s time you took action to find out.