Watch Out for Radon

Watch Out for Radon 

We all know that exposure to a large dose of radiation is not good for your health.  But have you considered that everyday in your home and at your place of work radioactive particles are bombarding your body without you even knowing.  Menasche Scharf explains.

It is happening right now - and if you live in a part of the country designated by the government as a 'Radon Affected Area' you may very well be storing up health problems for yourself and your family in the future. 

Radon is a radioactive gas. It is the by-product of a natural process that sees uranium, which is present in all bedrock and soil, organically decay. The gas reaches us from the ground beneath our feet, generally in low enough amounts so not to cause us harm. Once out in the open air above ground it disperses quickly, and for the majority of us will never be a concern.  There are however a few pockets of land across the country - normally where the bedrock is granite or limestone - where radon emissions are much higher. Identified as Radon Affected Areas these hotspot locations, which include the likes of Cornwall, Southwest Devon, parts of the Midlands and Wales, the Lake District and areas of Scotland, see radon emissions readily climb above the national average of 20 becquerels per cubic metre. This in itself is no cause for alarm. What is of concern, however, is the way in which some buildings in Radon Affected Areas pool the gas into high enough concentrations to be considered a health hazard. 

Buildings that 'suck' 

Radon enters buildings through cracks and gaps in floors and walls. The differential in air pressure between the building's interior and the ground on which it is built sucks the gas into the property. If there is little ventilation the gas is allowed to pool. 

In areas where natural radon emission is low, for example in places like Manchester and London, pooling radon rarely results in a problem. Mixing with air, even in poorly ventilated spaces, ensures that the gas never reaches dangerous levels. 

 

But in Radon Affected Areas where emissions are higher the story is very different. Radioactive particles can build in poorly ventilated buildings to the point where occupants exposed to the particles long-term can become three times more likely to contract lung cancer. The Health Protection Agency in fact estimate that some 2,500 lung cancer deaths each year in the UK are caused as a direct result of high level radon exposure. 

 

What can you do about it? 

If you're in a high radon emission area, you've every right to be concerned. Thankfully, there is much you can do to alleviate the threat the gas poses. First off, if you are worried about radon levels at your property, you should enlist the services of a radon measurement company. They will be able to test your property's radon levels and help you determine if there is a genuine risk there or not. 

If your property is at risk, the most effective way to manage that risk is through better ventilation. To this end you can have an air pump and vents installed at your property that efficiently disperse the gas so that it never becomes an issue. Pumps are not all that expensive to buy, and you just might be eligible for a grant to cover your costs. Contact your local council for more details.