A detailed evaluation of the individual health benefits arising in a domestic property following radon remediation--a case-study in Northamptonshire, U.K

Radon gas occurs naturally in the environment with variable distribution, concentrating sufficiently in the built environment in some areas to pose a public health risk. Radon levels can be successfully reduced in affected buildings, and large-scale remediation programmes have been justified in terms of accrued costs and benefits. We present results from a house where radon levels in the main living-room and master bedroom were monitored on an hourly basis over extended periods before and after radon remediation by sub-slab depressurisation. These results were combined with results from a recent occupancy survey to estimate the health impact on occupants spending varying times in the home. Prior to remediation, mean hourly radon exposure is moderately linearly correlated (R(2)=0.66-0.78) with time spent in the house. Following remediation, correlation is significantly enhanced (R(2)=0.91-0.95), but the exposure reduction of an occupant following remediation is less than that predicted using the NRPB protocol.