Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that results from the decay of uranium in rocks and soils. The gas is colourless, odourless and tasteless and can only be measured using special equipment. Radon is a radioactive gas that causes lung cancer. It is formed in the ground by the radioactive decay of uranium which is present in all rocks and soils. You cannot see it, smell it or taste it. It can only be measured with special detectors.
In the open air, radon is harmless. But in an enclosed space such as a house, it may build up to an unacceptably high level. Radon from the ground enters buildings chiefly through cracks in floors or gaps around pipes or cables.
Information about Radon from the Environmental Protection Agency
A Revised National Radon Map is available from 26th May 2022.
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