Health protection – collection

Radon

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

Contents

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. Radon in workplace basements

   • 19 July 2016
   • Research and analysis

2. Radon: householder knowledge

   • 10 March 2016
   • Research and analysis

3. Radon in homes: England and Wales 2010 data review

   • 1 March 2011
   • Research and analysis

4. Radon in Northern Ireland homes: targeted survey

   • 1 March 2013
   • Research and analysis

5. Radon in Northern Ireland homes: targeted survey

   • 1 March 2013
   • Research and analysis

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

   • 29 October 2015
   • Research and analysis

7. Passive radon detectors: results of the 2013 PHE intercomparison

   • 22 August 2014
   • Research and analysis

8. Radon: analysis of remediation methods

   • 1 May 2011
   • Research and analysis

9. Radon: review and atlas for Scotland

   • 1 April 2009
   • Research and analysis

10. Radon: targeted survey of Scottish homes

    • 1 October 2012
    • Research and analysis

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

    • 1 February 2011
    • Research and analysis

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

    • 1 May 2009
    • Research and analysis

• Published: 31 July 2014
• Updated: 29 July 2016

+ full page history

• 29 July 2016 1:14pm: Added radon in workplace basements.
• 31 July 2014 12:00am: First published.

• From: Public Health England