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What is radon ?
Radon is a radioactive gas released from the decay of uranium and radium found in rocks and soil. Radon diffuses into the air and can be found in confined spaces (caves, buildings) at higher concentrations than outdoors due to lack of ventilation.
| Radon is now considered as the main source of exposure for humans to natural radiation. It has been acknowledged as a cause of lung cancer in humans since 1987 by the International Agency Centre for Cancer Research (IARC), a body of the World Health Organization (WHO). |
8% human body
34% Radon
11% cosmic rays
13,5% ground radiation
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33% medical exposure
0,5% other sources (nuclear testing, industry...)
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NATURAL EXPOSURE
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ARTIFICIAL EXPOSURE
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Why is radon found in some buildings ?
The radon found inside a building originates mainly from the quality of the floor on which it stands (nature of the bedrock, cracks, porosity…). In some cases, radon can come from the water inside a building, from some building materials, or merely from outside air.
Ingress of radon in a building will depend on :
- the way it was built,
- ventilation systems in place,
- natural airing of the rooms,
- the inside temperature, as radon ingress increases with the difference of temperature between the inside and the outside.
How to reduce radon levels in buildings ?
Radon build up in buildings can be prevented by taking simple measures: check on the ventilation in all occupied rooms, improve natural airing, ensure windows are opened regularly, seal up some parts of the building.
On-site radon detection prior to the construction of a new building will allow for an implementation of preventive measures rather than having to resort to remediation work later.
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RADIATION PROTECTION 
