Radon
Information on radon and reports from the Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards (CRCE).
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
- Radon exposure: occupancy factors for UK homes
- Radon: indicative atlas in England and Wales
- Radon: indicative atlas in Scotland
- Radon: indicative atlas for Northern Ireland
- Radon: limitation of human exposure
- Radon and public health
- Radon in buildings: validation scheme for measurements
Research and analysis
- Intercomparison of passive radon detectors: 2019
- Radon: performance of basic protection in new homes
- Passive remediation of Radon in UK homes
- PHE 2015 intercomparison of passive radon detectors
- Radon in homes in England: 2016 data report
- Radon in homes in Scotland: 2016 data report
- Radon in homes in Wales: 2016 data report
- Radon in homes in Northern Ireland: 2016 data report
- Radon in workplace basements
- Radon: householder knowledge
- Radon in Northern Ireland homes: targeted survey
- Radon in Northern Ireland homes: targeted survey
- Passive radon detectors: results of the 2014 PHE intercomparison
- Radon: analysis of remediation methods
- Radon: targeted survey of Scottish homes
- Domestic radon programme in England: evaluation and equity audit
- Radon exposure in mines: analysis of dose to regions of the lung
Last updated 27 November 2020 + show all updates
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Added: 'Intercomparison of passive radon detectors: 2019'.
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Added 'Radon: performance of basic protection in new homes'.
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Added 'Passive remediation of Radon in UK homes'.
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Added: UK National Radon Action Plan
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We have added 'Radon exposure: occupancy factors for UK homes' in the Guidance section.
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Two reports added to the Research and Analysis section: Radon in Homes in Wales 2016, Radon in Homes in Northern Ireland 2016.
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Research and analysis section updated: PHE 2015 intercomparison of passive radon detectors
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Added 2016 UK radon reports.
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Added radon in workplace basements.
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First published.