The Health Protecteion Agency (HPA) have published a new report on the levels of radon, in peoples homes, in Scotland. Why am I writing about this on a cancer website? Well radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas (it is not man-made) that leaks out of rocks. As it is radioactive, it can damage DNA and if you are exposed to it for a very long time it can increase your risk of cancer.
This map on the DEFRA website shows how radon levels vary round the UK. The new report called “Radon in Dwellings in Scotland“, provides much more detailed levels of radon in Scotland. As you can see areas in South Aberdeenshire have high levels, especially round the Banchory area.
You can read more about the HPA report on the BBC website “Cancer-causing radon gas mapped“. Radon is thought to cause 100-200 new cases of lung cancer, in Scotland each year. In comparison smoking causes about 4, 000 cases of lung cancer in Scotland, each year.
If you smoke and you live in an area with high levels of radon you are much more likely (25x) to develop lung cancer. You can read more about this on the Cancer Research UK website “Harmful Substances and Cancer – Air Pollution and Radon” (you’ll need to scroll down to get to the bit about radon)
To give you some idea of the numbers they think that in total in Aberdeenshire about 400-800 homes (out of the 106, 000 homes in the Shire) will have radon levels above the “action level” (i.e which you should do something about). In Aberdeen City they only expect one or two homes to be affected.
If you are worried about radon levels in your home, you can order a detector pack, it will cost £43.70. There is more information on the ukradon.org website or on the shelter website.
I last wrote about radon and lung cancer on this website in November 2008. You can read that information by visiting the links below.
Lung Cancer in Women in Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire
Lung Cancer in Men in Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire
What causes lung cancer in people who don’t smoke?
Have you had your house tested for radon? Would you recommend others to do the same? Please leave a comment below.
If you are more impressed with the images than the text “
AlphaLab provide information on radon gas, UK radon maps and fast-track radon gas testing kits.
If you’re worried, you can order a test from Radosure . There are two kinds of tests, one which gives you a “high” or “low” kind of result (which you need to leave for a week – any less than that isn’t worth bothering with, and I was advised against 48 hour tests for that reason). There is a second kind which will give you a precise reading, but you need to leave it for 3 months.
They were the cheapest I could find, are approved by the HPA (the UK Government body who oversee these things). Overall a really first class service.
Hope this helps!
Stephen
These look like adverts to me, you can buy kits directly from the HPA.
Dear Avril,
Absolutely you can buy them from the HPA – I found a list of laboratories that have been checked by the HPA. I chose the cheapest!
Only trying to help – please delete if you think it’s inappropriate.
Best regards,
Stephen