Earth Environmental & Geotechnical provide a Comprehensive range of Radon Survey, Detection and Monitoring Services.
Radon exposure is a serious risk to health. Residential, commercial and future developments need to know if there is a risk of radon exposure, or if radon exposure is occurring.
At Earth Environmental & Geotechnical we have an extensive range of Radon Survey services for radon Monitoring and Radon Detection including: in-situ measurement of radon gas activity using MARKUS 10 instruments, Radon monitoring in existing commercial and residential properties, plus we also provide Ecotrak® Radon monitoring radon soil gas
The current radon risk assessments are based on 1km square grids on a UK wide atlas. But 1km square is a very coarse grid and research has shown that pockets of elevated radon potential can be found. This risk assessment is indicative, rather than definitive, highlighting the highest radon potential found within the 1km square. That means the radon levels is not actually known, but the potential chance of high radon levels is identified.
Earth Environmental & Geotechnical recently acquired a MARKUS 10 instrument to allow in-situ measurement of radon gas activity(kBq/m3) in soils.
The instrument is used for developments in areas where the UK Radon Atlas indicates that between one and ten percent of homes are reported to have radon concentrations above action levels, as a screen to determine whether further assessment is required.
The in-situ radon surveys are used to support Town Planning applications that include an assessment of whether a site is likely to be ‘Suitable for Use’ with respect to risks to future users from radon ingress if no radon mitigation measures are installed or further assessment undertaken.
Human health risk based criteria has also been developed for radon using CLEA and the RCLEA model.
The use of the CLEA equations assumes that radon is present as a trace component in the soil gas and therefore will have equivalent transport properties to air.
In partnership with Radonova we provide Radon monitoring in existing commercial and residential properties. We are also launching our new service – Ecotrak®. This allows for assessment of radon soil gas. Ecotrak® monitoring allows developers make an informed decision whether a NEW residential or commercial property requires radon mitigation measures.
Earth Environmental & Geotechnical are the only company offering Ecotrak® radon monitoring. Contact us now for further information.
The new Ecotrak® detector can be used ahead of new builds and property modernisations and provides quick, reliable information on the amount of radon in the soil being tested.
Unlike other commonly used soil detectors, Ecotrak® is covered by international comparative tests. The detector is supplied in a Tyvek bag, which protects against moisture, dirt and other factors that could affect the result.
Ecotrak® does not have to be returned for immediate analysis, rather it can be collected and stored at stockists for a short period. This enables more streamlined handling and means that detectors from several different monitoring periods can be sent for analysis at the same time.
“Monitoring radon in soil is relatively simple. The challenge is to monitor it in such a way as to provide a reliable result. In part, this means that the product itself has to be high quality. Also able to withstand the stresses that are part and parcel of monitoring in soil. However, it also means using an accredited laboratory that takes part in international tests. This enables us to carry out fact-based comparisons with large amounts of reference data,” says Karl Nilsson, CEO of Radonova Laboratories.
“By launching the new detector, we’re making it simpler and safer than ever to monitor radon in soil. No matter what type of construction is involved, there’s great value in understanding the radon situation. What’s more, in some cases the local building committee requires a study into radon levels before granting building permits. Should monitoring show that the site is what’s termed ‘high risk’, the construction can be made radon-proof from the beginning,” says Oskar Boström, product manager at Radonova Laboratories.
Earth Environmental & Geotechnical provide a wide range of Radon Monitoring and Detection services click here to contact us for further information.
Radon is a naturally occurring gas, it is colourless and odourless, but can have serious health implications. Radon is produced from the natural breakdown of the uranium and radium found in most rocks and soils. As it further breaks down, radon emits atomic particles. These particles are in the air we breathe. Once inhaled, they can be deposited in our lungs. Radon is linked with approximately 1,100 lung cancer deaths each year in the UK. Radon is estimated to be responsible for 10% of lung cancer deaths in the UK. It is the second cause of lung cancer next to smoking. According to the Swedish radiation Protection Institute the risk of Radon gas radiation far outweighs the effect of the Chenobyl incident. So Radon Detection and Radon Monitoring are of the utmost importance to developers. Earth Environmental offer a comprehensive service.
Usually radon does not present a health risk outdoors, because it is diluted in the open air. Radon can, however, build up to dangerous levels inside a building. When it builds up indoors, the energy associated with these particles can alter cell DNA, thus increasing the risk of lung cancer.
All soil and rocks contain uranium, but some rocks like granite, shale, sandstone and limestone have a higher concentration. Radon travels through gaps and cracks in the rock to the surface. Areas where the rock is very solid, like Aberdeen tends to have lower radon levels as the radon cannot escape. But areas where the rock is very fissured have higher risk levels, as the cracks allow the radon to escape freely. For instance, levels may be higher in parts of the country rich in granite, such as Dartmoor in Devon and Cornwall.
Radon can be drawn into a building through these cracks and fissures. Where the radon gets trapped, it can build up to high levels, prolonged exposure to high levels is a risk to health. The UK radon action level of 200 Becquerel per cubic metre is advised by Public Health England to the government. Any level higher than 200 needs to be lowered as a matter of priority. So it is important to understand the radon risk for any future developments and if Radon mitigation system will be required . It is also essential to establish current residential and commercial properties radon levels and if required have a remedial work strategy in place.
