In December 2022, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the British Geological Survey (BGS) published a new radon map for Great Britain, refining our knowledge of radon affected areas.
The update was the first in over a decade, and the UKradon map is a result of extensive research and analysis, combining the latest geological mapping with an extensive database of in-home measurements. The new map can help you understand whether you need to conduct a radon survey with Lucion to ensure your property and its occupants are protected from the risk of radon.
With the radon map on the UK radon website, local councils, national and regional governments, social and private landlords, private homeowners, and employers can evaluate the radon exposure risk in their properties. Additionally, the map informs building regulations, determining the areas where radon-preventative measures should be incorporated in new constructions. The darker the colour on the radon map, the greater the chance of higher radon levels in a building. However, even in the darkest areas on the map, not all buildings have high levels of radon present.
At Lucion, we can support you with a range of radon risk management services to understand the amount of radon present in your building and prevent the risk of lung cancer and other health issues for your occupants or employees. We can help you implement a radon mitigation system or provide guidance on radon test results and how to move forward from this.
We created a list of radon FAQs to answer your top 10 questions and advise you throughout this process.
What is Radon?
Only just 10% of UK adults have heard of radon, so they are not testing their buildings for its presence.
Radon is a colourless, odourless radioactive gas, formed by the radioactive decay of small amounts of uranium that occur naturally in all rocks and soils. Radon is drawn into buildings from the ground due to the atmospheric pressure indoors being lower than the outside. High radon levels occur in buildings due to several factors including concentration of uranium in rock formations, permeability of the ground, the construction or condition of the floor and ventilation in the building.
Why is Radon a risk to our health?
Radioactive substances can decay and emit radiation. As a form of energy that can cause damage to living tissue, any exposure to this type of radon is a risk to human health. As radon is inhaled, it can deposit radioactive decay products in the lungs, causing damage and increasing the risk of lung cancer. According to UKHSA, over 1,100 deaths each year is caused by radon-related lung cancer and exposure to radon gas is a leading cause of this in non-smokers.
Where is Radon found?
Radon is found in multiple locations, from workplaces to your home.
Workplaces such as basements, mines, caves and utility industry service ducts can have significant levels of radon, as can any above-ground workplaces in radon-affected areas. All workplaces including factories, offices, shops, schools, residential care homes and health centres can be affected.Using a radon sump can help with the release of radon from underground before it reaches your home, providing a safer living environment for you and your family.
Should you be worried about the presence of radon in your workplace or home, a radon survey from Lucion can help.
What level of Radon concentration is considered a risk?
Radon concentration is measured in becquerels per cubic metre of air (Bq m-3). The average level in UK homes is 20 Bq m-3. For levels below 100 Bq m-3, your individual risk remains relatively low and is not a cause for concern. However, the risk increases as the radon concentration increases. The regulations – Ionising Radiation Regulations 2017 (IRR17) – apply in the workplace if the radon level exceeds 300 Bq m-3 as an annual average.
What are my responsibilities as an employer?
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, an employer is responsible for ensuring the health and safety of employees and others who access their workplace. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require the assessment of health and safety risks which include radon under the following circumstances:
- All workplaces located in radon-affected areas; and
- All occupied below-ground workplaces in the UK.
UKHSA advises radon should be identified as a hazard if you have a workplace with one or more of the following circumstances:
- It is a building in a radon affected area
- It has a basement area that is occupied for more than about 50 hours each year
- It is a mine, cave, or another underground environment
- It has a suspected radon source such as groundwater (e.g. treatment works) or geological samples
How do I find out if my workplace is in a Radon affected area?
A radon affected area is an area where the probability of a property having an indoor air concentration above the domestic action level of 200 Bq/m3 is more than 1%. You can check to see if your workplace is in a radon affected area by searching the RadonUK map:
If you are in a radon affected area, suitable radon testing and monitoring must be arranged to establish the radon levels in your workplace.
What Radon testing options are available?
There are seasonal and daily fluctuations in building radon levels. For example, radon levels are generally high in winter due to the thermal stack affect but on a daily basis, they can vary substantially as they are often influenced by weather conditions. For this reason, it is best practice to conduct radon measurements over a three-month period using passive detectors, to average out short-term fluctuations.
In some scenarios, it is also possible to measure radon levels using real-time monitoring equipment eg. an affected area with high radon potential (above 30%) or where the results of measurements are required in a limited time scale, like a property sale. (Real-time measurements provide a low-resolution indication of radon level with measurements not seasonally corrected. They can be used in addition to passive detection only.
When you engage our team at Lucion to install the detectors, preliminary testing will be conducted at your site(s) of concern, measuring the concentration of radon in the air, using active radon monitoring equipment. This will identify any elevated readings or areas of interest immediately.
Passive radon detectors are simply left in position during the three-month measurement period. The hollow plastic shell contains a piece of clear plastic that records the damage caused by radon. The detectors do not emit anything and do not collect anything dangerous. However, they can be damaged by heat or submersion in water and should never be opened.
What information is required prior to Radon testing?
As part of the assessment process, we will require the following information about your business:
- A list of all building assets owned by the company
- Floor plans of all ground and basement levels, including dimension measurements
- Estimated occupancy durations in each building for each floor or basement room
Our radon risk assessment services include detailed site inspections, analysis of radon test results and monitoring data to assess exposure levels and trends, evaluation of compliance in the workplace, comprehensive reporting, guidance on best practices for radon risk communication and employee engagement, and the development of a radon risk assessment document.
What Should I Do If Radon Is Present?
Should radon be identified during radon testing, legislation requires employers to act if radon levels exceed the workplace threshold of 300 Bq m-3, as an annual average.
If the detected radon levels exceed the 300 Bq m-3 annual average, the IRR17 will apply, and you must appoint and take the advice of a qualified Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA). ARPS are competent to act in this role and will able to offer guidance on any remediation work required, and help you to comply with your responsibilities under the regulations.
Where Can I Download More Information About Radon?
Our team at Lucion have created a two-page PDF Hazardous Substances Guide to help you navigate the risks of radon. You can find the guide here.
Our Radon services at Lucion
At Lucion, we offer a range of radon risk management services to support your business or your home. These include radon surveys, radon testing and monitoring, radon mitigation and validation services, and radon risk assessment services.
Our team are specialists in working with radon, and they can support you with the best ways to move forward if radon is detected in your property. Our experts will thoroughly evaluate the risk of radon in your property before implementing effective and safe radon risk management.
Our knowledge of the issues surrounding the risk management and legal compliance of hazardous materials gives our clients complete reassurance throughout their project, with real time visibility of all hazardous materials and all risks. Through our team across our suite of companies, our clients have our expertise and environmental advisory and management capabilities available throughout every project.
Contact us to see how we can support you with radon risk management.
