Collection

Radon

Information on radon and reports from the Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards (CRCE).

• From: Public Health England
• Published: 31 July 2014
• Last updated: 27 November 2020, see all updates

Radon is a colourless, odourless radioactive gas. It’s formed by the radioactive decay of small amounts of uranium that occur naturally in all rocks and soils.

The main danger from high radon exposure is the increased risk of lung cancer. For most people, radon is the single largest source of radiation exposure whether they are at home or at work.

Public Health England (PHE) is the UK’s primary expert on radon and radiation protection. PHE provides resources and advice about radon for the public, including individual householders, industry, education and research.

The UKradon website has more information about radon, including:

• health risks
• maps of radon-affected areas
• the radon measurement services that PHE offers

The PHE blog Public health matters includes radon.

Read recent PHE publications on radon below.

Guidance documents

• UK National Radon Action Plan
  • 18 December 2018
  • Guidance
• Radon exposure: occupancy factors for UK homes
  • 11 December 2018
  • Guidance
• Radon: indicative atlas in England and Wales
  • 1 November 2007
  • Guidance
• Radon: indicative atlas in Scotland
  • 1 July 2011
  • Guidance
• Radon: indicative atlas for Northern Ireland
  • 21 August 2015
  • Guidance
• Radon: limitation of human exposure
  • 1 July 2010
  • Guidance
• Radon and public health
  • 1 June 2009
  • Guidance
• Radon in buildings: validation scheme for measurements
  • 27 September 2018
  • Guidance

Research and analysis

• Intercomparison of passive radon detectors: 2019
  • 27 November 2020
  • Research and analysis
• Radon: performance of basic protection in new homes
  • 5 April 2019
  • Research and analysis
• Passive remediation of Radon in UK homes
  • 31 January 2019
  • Guidance
• PHE 2015 intercomparison of passive radon detectors
  • 20 April 2017
  • Research and analysis
• Radon in homes in England: 2016 data report
  • 24 March 2017
  • Research and analysis
• Radon in homes in Scotland: 2016 data report
  • 24 March 2017
  • Research and analysis
• Radon in homes in Wales: 2016 data report
  • 24 March 2017
  • Research and analysis
• Radon in homes in Northern Ireland: 2016 data report
  • 24 March 2017
  • Research and analysis
• Radon in workplace basements
  • 19 July 2016
  • Research and analysis
• Radon: householder knowledge
  • 10 March 2016
  • Research and analysis
• Radon in Northern Ireland homes: targeted survey
  • 1 March 2013
  • Research and analysis
• Radon in Northern Ireland homes: targeted survey
  • 1 March 2013
  • Research and analysis
• Passive radon detectors: results of the 2014 PHE intercomparison
  • 29 October 2015
  • Research and analysis
• Radon: analysis of remediation methods
  • 1 May 2011
  • Research and analysis
• Radon: targeted survey of Scottish homes
  • 1 October 2012
  • Research and analysis
• Domestic radon programme in England: evaluation and equity audit
  • 1 February 2011
  • Research and analysis
• Radon exposure in mines: analysis of dose to regions of the lung
  • 1 May 2009
  • Research and analysis

Published 31 July 2014
Last updated 27 November 2020 + show all updates

1. 27 November 2020

   Added: 'Intercomparison of passive radon detectors: 2019'.

2. 11 November 2019

   Added 'Radon: performance of basic protection in new homes'.

3. 31 January 2019

   Added 'Passive remediation of Radon in UK homes'.

4. 18 December 2018

   Added: UK National Radon Action Plan

5. 11 December 2018

   We have added 'Radon exposure: occupancy factors for UK homes' in the Guidance section.

6. 5 July 2017

   Two reports added to the Research and Analysis section: Radon in Homes in Wales 2016, Radon in Homes in Northern Ireland 2016.

7. 20 April 2017

   Research and analysis section updated: PHE 2015 intercomparison of passive radon detectors

8. 24 March 2017

   Added 2016 UK radon reports.

9. 29 July 2016

   Added radon in workplace basements.

10. 31 July 2014

    First published.