Facts

General information about radon

Radon is an invisible, odourless and tasteless radioactive gas. It exists naturally in most rocks and soils from where it can migrate up, through the ground, into buildings. Radon is also emitted from certain building materials made out of rock materials with naturally high uranium content. High amounts of radon can also be found in water, especially if the water comes from a drilled well.

The illustration below, borrowed from the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority, shows how radon can migrate into a building. Please click on the illustration to view a larger image. 

Why should I bother about radon?

It is proved that radon can cause cancer. Scientists calculate that some hundred people each year suffer from lung cancer as a direct cause of being exposed to radon. According to SSI, radon is our largest radiation problem our society has to deal with today.