Have you tested your home for radon?

[RAW22]

I've NC'ed for this as it's massively outing to anyone who knows me but am a regular user.

Wondering how many people are aware of radon and/or have ever tested their home. I'm involved in this field professionally and one of the most common questions clients ask is "why hasn't anyone the government ever told us about this?". I found out about it when I graduated and happened to get a job with a company who dealt with it and I've spent the last 15 years trying to raise awareness as I think it's shocking more people aren't aware.

It's the leading cause of lung cancer in non smokers and responsible for over 1100 deaths in the UK every year. It's easy to test your house and costs around £40.

This week is UK Radon Awareness Week and today the campaign was focusing on families, so I thought this was a good place to share the information. Thursday will focus on schools which is a whole other issue - there are currently tens of thousands of children (and staff) being exposed to high levels in schools because the necessary risk assessments haven't been done. Worth asking your children's schools if they have done their risk assessment!

Happy to answer any questions on the subject.

Thank you so much for taking the time. Very much appreciated, really kind of you 😊

I had a letter today saying my home needs testing for radon, they are coming to put in detectors soon. Oldish council house in area with lots and lots of mines 😂 what happens if radon is found?

Assuming I have done a test and found radon to be present, what do I do about it?

I live in Cornwall. I think most Cornish people my age - 40ish - know about it as we were taught it in schools in the 80s. We always have windows open. My estate is made up of crappy 1979 build houses on old farmland at the top of a hill so we're likely OK.

That said, I was a HSE Inspector for some years and it was astonishing how rarely radon was considered on any construction site by any client, designer or builder across the south West.

Forgive my ignorance but wouldn't cancer/death rates be much higher in areas of high radon?

You say it's the leading cause of lung cancer after smoking but is that in residential homes or mines etc? Could you point me to the research please.

I don't disbelieve you but if there was evidence to prove that living in a high radon area gave you cancer wouldn't there be loads of publicity?

I mean people are still worried about living near pylons and I don't believe any research has ever proved it's detrimental to health.

It’s a great idea to encourage people to test their homes for radon, especially since it’s an easy and affordable process. For anyone unsure, starting with a radon test kit (around £40) is a simple first step to ensure their home is safe. And if you have kids, definitely ask schools if they’ve done a radon risk assessment!