14
THE COST EFFECTIVENESS OF RADON REMEDIATION PROGRAMMES
IN HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS AND HOMES IN RADON AFFECTED AREAS IN THE UK

A.R.Denman †§, P.S.Phillips ‡, and R. Tornberg ¤
† Medical Physics Department,
Northampton General Hospital, Cliftonville, Northampton, NN1 5BD, UK
‡ School of Environmental Science, University College, Northampton,
Boughton Green Road, Northampton, NN2 7AL, UK
¤ Radon Centres Ltd,
Grove Farm, Moulton, Northampton, NN3 7UF, UK
§ Visiting Fellow in Medical Physics, University College, Northampton.

Radon gas is now considered to be a health hazard when found in excessive amounts in the built environment. The levels of radon vary greatly, with some geographical areas having very high
levels. In the United Kingdom, Northamptonshire was declared an Affected Area in 1992, and it
was at this stage that our group first started studying radon levels and the steps taken to reduce
them.
The radon levels both before and after remediation were studied, together with the number of
occupants of affected rooms, and their pattern of occupation. The totals costs of the programme
were recorded, including the survey using etched track detectors to find the affected room, and
work done to reduce radon levels. This analysis provided a total cost of the remediation
programme per dose saved.
This analysis was carried out, first for Health Service properties in Northamptonshire, and then for
schools and domestic properties. Comparison of the three programmes showed that the programme
in schools was the most cost effective, but that a completed programme in domestic properties
would be almost as effective. However, in the UK, only 10 % of those who discover raised radon
levels have so far organised remedial work, greatly reducing the cost effectiveness of the domestic
remediation programme. It was found that it was four times more expensive to remediate Health
Service properties compared to a completed programme in domestic properties. The results were
close to theoretical predictions made for domestic properties in other countries.
All the programmes could be justified when compared to the National Radiological Protection
Board (NRPB) initiative to reduce patient dose from dental X-Rays. However, if the uptake of
householders was less than 10 %, a domestic remediation programme was excessively expensive.
The analysis has now been extended to series of houses in North Oxfordshire, and Somerset, which
has allowed a comparison of cost effectiveness for areas with different percentages of houses
above the domestic Action Level of 200 Bq m -3 .
As expected, it is more cost effective to target areas with higher percentages of houses above the
Action Level. More importantly, the percentage of householders who find raised radon levels and
then organise remediation is critical. Programmes to reduce domestic radon levels in areas where 2
% or less of houses are above the Action Level are difficult to justify financially unless a high
householder response is achieved.
Key Words :- Affected Areas, Radon, Remediation, Cost Effectiveness, Hospitals, Schools