UK ‘radioactive fuel’ hotspots as consultants warn ‘get examined’ – is your property listed

The UK’s radioactive gas hotspots have been revealed, as experts are urging locals to “get tested.

Radon gas has long plagued parts of the country, with every building in the country actually containing it. The radioactive gas, which we can’t see, smell or taste it, needs special equipment to detect, and comes from the rocks and soil found everywhere in the UK.

The radon level in the air we breathe outside is very low but can be higher inside buildings. And there are certain parts of the UK where the levels are higher than they should be – with urgent warnings now issued as Truro leads a new “hotspot” list.

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According to a study conducted by Go.Compare Home Insurance, Plymouth and Northampton join Truro in the top three hotspots. Based on the research using the UK’s Health and Security Agency data, these areas have the most postcode districts where homes have the highest chance (a 30% or greater chance) of being above the government’s action level for radon.

At this point, it is recommended that levels be reduced in homes. South West England has three areas that appear within the top five, suggesting that radon levels here are particularly high. Exposure to high levels of radon can affect our health and is thought to be one of the leading causes of lung cancer.

Rebecca Coates, head of radon projects at PropertECO Ltd, said: “I strongly recommend that everyone living in a designated radon-affected area tests their home as it is the only way to know what level of radon you and your family are being exposed to.

“The cost of a home radon test is approximately equivalent to having an MOT done on your car, which we all do every year to ensure it is safe to drive. Most of us spend a lot longer in our homes than in our cars, so it should be a no-brainer to check that our homes are safe – and if the results are low, it’s likely you won’t need to test again for 10 years.”

The full list of the 10 most impacted places is:

1. Truro – 70%

2. Plymouth – 29%

3. Northampton – 26%

4. Torquay – 21%

5. Bath – 16%

6. Lancaster – 9%

7. Sheffield – 5%

8. Derby – 5%

9. Gloucester – 4%

10. Peterborough – 3%

For more information on the research, including insights into residents’ awareness of radon, visit Go.Compare.

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