Radon: a stealthy killer that claims hundreds of lives

Nowadays fear of exposure to radioactivity generally revolves around artificial radiation sources, such as nuclear power facilities. What most people do not suspect is that the biggest threat of exposure to the population is commonly caused by natural sources –in the Czech Republic by radon, a gas without odour, colour or taste that is the leading cause of cancer in non-smokers.

Kateřina Rovenská, photo: archive of Kateřina Rovenská

Radon is a natural radioactive gas that occurs as a by-product of uranium decay. It is present to some degree everywhere on earth –but most in soils rich in uranium –as is the case of the Czech Republic where it presents a potential risk to a third of the population. In the open radon is diluted to extremely low concentrations but in some buildings –particularly old buildings constructed without this concern in mind - the accumulation of radon can reach dangerous levels and long term exposure through inhalation can result in lung cancer. According to WHO statistics every year radon kills 900 people in the Czech Republic. Since the 1990s the National Radiation Protection Institute and the State Office for Nuclear Safety have been fighting this risk together through a national action plan. I asked Kateřina Rovenská from the National Radiation Protection Institute to tell me more about the steps being taken.

“What the Czech Republic is trying to do is to increase awareness about the problem –not only awareness about what radon is, but about how to deal with it through the National Action Plan which was approved 20 years ago.”

In practice can you tell me how you reach people? Do you put leaflets in their post boxes or get town mayors to warn their inhabitants?

“There are different ways. Nowadays we have web pages dedicated to the issue, there is a radon nature trail explaining what is going on, there are different activities with schools and we try to use the media as well.”

Do you have a map of high-risk areas that people can look at and see if this is a problem that concerns them?

“Radon has no smell, you can’t see it – the only way you can find out if it is present in your home is to measure it”

“There are areas with a higher radon potential, but as I mentioned previously you can easily build a high-radon house on a low-radon-risk building site. So what is more important is to ask for the measurement and citizens of the Czech Republic can apply for this service for free –they will get a free radon test kit on request under the Radon Program – and they can check out their house, flat or dwelling. Radon has no smell, you can’t see it – the only way you can find out if it is present in your home in a high concentration is to measure it.”

You are one of the people providing this service. Can you explain what it involves?

“The test kit –which is provided for free – is for long-term measurement, for a period of two months during the heating season or for the whole year. All you have to do is send us an email requesting this service and we will send you a questionnaire to fill in. When you return the questionnaire we will send you a package with two detectors.”

So people install this device themselves and then send it back to you and you assess the risk….

“That is right. They will get detailed instructions how to install the detectors in their home, they will get another form to fill and then when the exposure is finished they will send the detectors back to us.”

Do they have to do this in every room of their house or in one place only?

“Actually, this free test kit contains two detectors and it is recommended that they are placed in the most frequently inhabited rooms –which is usually the kitchen and bedroom and living room and bedroom and then, if higher levels are observed as a result of this long term measurement, they can ask for additional measurements in other rooms of the house.”

I understand that there are more ways of getting radon-levels measured? Is there any other way?

“Yes, these other tests are usually short-term tests that last for one or two weeks and they are carried out by private companies. The tests conducted by these companies are licensed by the State Office for Nuclear Safety but, unlike ours, these are tests that you have to pay for. Still, if you need the results quickly then you can order this short-term measurement provided by a private company.”

“Ninety-nine percent of high-risk houses can be made safe.”

And if you find that a certain house is high-risk –what then, can these houses be made safe?

“Yes, there are technical measures how to decrease the radon concentration in a dwelling or in a flat. I must say that in 99 percent of houses we are able to find a solution. Not me, because I am only responsible for the measurement part, but civil engineers have the knowledge how to decrease the radon concentration. We have a Czech Technical Standard how to design preventive and corrective actions. The Czech Technical Standard was one of the first in Europe dealing with this topic so we have had this taken care of for a long time. And after corrective action is implemented then fresh measurements are undertaken to ascertain if they have been successful.”

I understand that the biggest problem is in older houses that were built under communism when this was not considered. Is that right - that newly built houses are generally not so much of a problem?

“Well, partly yes. Legislation dealing with radon in dwellings went into force in the early 90s, so all the buildings built before this period most probably do not have proper insulation or proper preventive measures against radon. On the other hand, in previous times, natural ventilation was bigger since windows were not as tight-fitting as they are now, so the radon could disperse. Nowadays, we want to save money on heating so we have tight-fitting windows and there is no natural ventilation and the concentration of radon can build up because if the building substructure is not adequate then radon from the soil can easily penetrate into the dwelling.”

I understand that some of the buildings that presented a problem were school and kindergarten buildings –should testing there not be compulsory? Is it compulsory?

“No, it is not. It is only recommended.”

Is that not a problem?

“The law only stipulates compulsory measurements in work places. In dwellings and other premises it is not compulsory.”

Photo: Filip Jandourek

I understand that you conducted a survey of radon measurements in different institutions –such as the schools and kindergartens we mentioned – and according to the outcome 10 percent of the buildings had a radon problem –is that right?

“Yes, statistically that number is correct.”

And how do we stand as far as legislation goes? Are Czech norms as they are now adequate or should they be tightened?

“When we compare Czech norms and standards to those of other European countries I would say that our norms are comparable to those elsewhere in Europe and are also in line with the recommendations of IAEA and the EU. In the last year or two the European Commission directives and the International Atomic Agency requirements tightened and our laws will be modified accordingly in the near future.”

Obviously since the Czech Republic has a higher incidence of radon than most other EU states, it has to work harder on addressing the problem. Do you feel that in the past years the problem has been getting enough attention and that more people now turn to you with requests for help?

“Well, in the wake of articles in the papers and radio programs on the subject we have a 100 percent increase in requests for measurements. People want to know what the radon level is in their homes and that is very important for us.”