Radon in the United Kingdom

HPA targets cancer causing natural gas
Reporter: Dave PartonDate online: 08/07/2010
A new initiative to reduce concentrations of radon in UK homes has been launched today (8 July) by the Health Protection Agency. Radon is responsible for an estimated 1,100 lung cancer deaths a year. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that seeps from the ground into all buildings and is the biggest source of human exposure to ionising radiation in the UK.
Concentrations of radon depend on a number of factors, including geology, the type of foundation, the positioning of service pipe work and internal ventilation levels. After reviewing the latest scientific evidence along with the costs and benefits of radon reduction measures, the HPA is keeping its Action Level of 200 Becquerels per cubic metre (Bq m-3), however, it is introducing a new Target Level of 100 Bq m-3. The reviews follow recent advice and improved evidence on the risks from radon issued by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). The Target Level has been introduced after research published since 1990 gave scientists a greater understanding of the risks to health from exposure to radon below 200 Bq m-3. Furthermore, the HPA now has significantly more experience of the efficiency of remediation measures. Although low level exposures can still lead to lung cancer, the risks at these levels are low and can be further reduced by simple improvement measures designed to increase under floor ventilation. Dr John Cooper, director of the HPA’s Centre for Radiation, Chemicals and Environmental Hazards, said: “We are retaining the Action Level of 200 Bq m-3 so that our efforts can be firmly focussed on those at greatest risk. “However, the new Target Level of 100 Bq m-3 will enable us to ensure people are aware that even below 200 Bq m-3 there are still risks to health and simple remediation measures can be taken to reduce these. “The HPA recommends that people in homes where radon levels have been recorded between the two figures should think carefully about preventative action to protect their health. “Together with our previous recommendations to Government on the inclusion of basic radon protective measures in all new buildings, the new advice is an appropriate practical response based on good scientific evidence of the risks of lung cancer from radon exposure.” The HPA recommends that Target and Action Levels should be applied to other buildings where members of the public spend more than 2,000 hours per year and specifically, to all schools. Radon measurement programmes are arranged from predictions of the probability that homes and other buildings in different parts of the country will have radon concentrations exceeding the Action Level. HPA recommends that householders in intermediate and higher probability radon areas should have measurements made of indoor radon concentration in their home. Householders can find out the likelihood that their home is above the Action Level at www.ukradon.org.