Collection

Radon

• From: Public Health England
• Part of: Radiation
• Published: 31 July 2014
• Last updated: 5 July 2017, see all updates

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

1. Radon: indicative atlas in England and Wales

   • 1 November 2007
   • Guidance

2. Radon: indicative atlas in Scotland

   • 1 July 2011
   • Guidance

3. Radon: indicative atlas for Northern Ireland

   • 21 August 2015
   • Guidance

4. Radon: limitation of human exposure

   • 1 July 2010
   • Guidance

5. Radon and public health

   • 1 June 2009
   • Guidance

6. Radon in dwellings: validation scheme for measurements

   • 1 December 2008
   • Guidance

Research and analysis

1. PHE 2015 intercomparison of passive radon detectors

   • 20 April 2017
   • Research and analysis

2. Radon in homes in England: 2016 data report

   • 24 March 2017
   • Research and analysis

3. Radon in homes in Scotland: 2016 data report

   • 24 March 2017
   • Research and analysis

4. Radon in homes in Wales: 2016 data report

   • 24 March 2017
   • Research and analysis

5. Radon in homes in Northern Ireland: 2016 data report

   • 24 March 2017
   • Research and analysis

6. Radon in workplace basements

   • 19 July 2016
   • Research and analysis

7. Radon: householder knowledge

   • 10 March 2016
   • Research and analysis

8. Radon in Northern Ireland homes: targeted survey

   • 1 March 2013
   • Research and analysis

9. Radon in Northern Ireland homes: targeted survey

   • 1 March 2013
   • Research and analysis

10. Passive radon detectors: results of the 2014 PHE intercomparison

    • 29 October 2015
    • Research and analysis

11. Radon: analysis of remediation methods

    • 1 May 2011
    • Research and analysis

12. Radon: targeted survey of Scottish homes

    • 1 October 2012
    • Research and analysis

13. Domestic radon programme in England: evaluation and equity audit

    • 1 February 2011
    • Research and analysis

14. Radon exposure in mines: analysis of dose to regions of the lung

    • 1 May 2009
    • Research and analysis

Document information

Published: 31 July 2014

Updated: 5 July 2017

+ full page history

1. 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.
2. 20 April 2017 Research and analysis section updated: PHE 2015 intercomparison of passive radon detectors
3. 24 March 2017 Added 2016 UK radon reports.
4. 29 July 2016 Added radon in workplace basements.
5. 31 July 2014 First published.

From: Public Health England

Part of: Radiation