90% of UK Adults Have Never Checked for Radon

When it comes to protecting our families, we routinely lock doors, install smoke alarms and take our cars for annual MOTs. Yet radon, which can cause avoidable health risks, is often overlooked. In fact, 90% of us have never checked for it.

A recent YouGov survey conducted by GoCompare revealed that 9 in 10 UK adults have never tested their homes for radon, despite it being the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. That’s because radon remains widely misunderstood or even unheard of by many.

With that in mind:

Only 1 in 5 people are aware of the risks of radon exposure
Over two-thirds of UK adults are completely unaware of the risks of radon exposure
Just 6% have tested their homes
4% were not even sure whether or not their home has been tested.

Clearly, it’s time to get back to basics.

What is Radon?

Radon is a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas that is radioactive. It forms naturally from the breakdown of uranium in the rocks and soils beneath us. While outdoor levels are typically low, indoor levels can build up. Long term exposure to high levels of radon can have serious health consequences, but because it can’t be seen, smelled or tasted, proper testing needs to be carried out to detect and measure it.

The Health Implications

Radon has been most strongly linked to lung cancer, with the UK Health Security Agency estimating that over 1,000 lung cancer deaths per year are radon-related. Emerging research has now painted an even broader picture, with recent studies suggesting possible links between radon and other conditions including:

Kidney and brain cancers
Cardiovascular problems
Neurological diseases

This new evidence adds urgency to calls for stronger public health policies that concern radon. In the meantime, testing your own home is the only way to know if you’re at risk while in your house.

Testing for Radon

It’s strongly recommended that everyone living in a radon-affected area test their home. What’s more, the cost of a home radon test is roughly the same as an MOT. Most of us spend far more time in our homes than in our cars, and given the health implications, testing is a no brainer. If your test indicates low levels, you may not need to test again for a further 10 years – it’s a small effort for long-term peace of mind.

Test Your Home for Radon in 6 Easy Steps

Step 1: Check if You’re in a Radon Affected Area

Visit the UK radon website to see if your property is in a high-risk zone.

Please note:

While the map indicates affected areas, radon levels can differ from home to home. So, while your house may contain high levels of radon, your neighbour’s house only a few doors down may have low levels. Even after consulting the map, the only way to know the radon level in your property is to carry out a test.

Step 2: Order a Radon Test Kit

You can purchase a test kit from a trusted provider (like PropertECO). A standard home radon kit includes two passive detectors and easy-to-follow instructions.

Step 3: Wait Three Months

For a more accurate and long-term picture of the radon readings in your home, we do recommend 3-month passive radon detector kits. This will allow for natural fluctuations in radon levels that 10-day detector kits cannot account for in the analysis.

Step 4: Return the Detectors

After the testing period, send the detectors back to the lab along with the completed tracking form which tells us where and when the detectors were used.

Step 5: Await Your Results

In just a few days you will receive your radon results along with a report that details whether any further action is required.

90% of UK Adults Have Never Checked for Radon – Have You?