Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that has no color or smell.
It enters buildings from the ground, through cracks or crevices in floors and walls, for example.
It is a dangerous gas for your health and when we are exposed for prolonged periods, the risk of lung cancer is higher.
In this article you can read:
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Radiation in the workplace: what to do?
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What are the preventive and corrective measures?
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How to measure?
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Legal framework
What are the health effects?
Radon produces radioactive particles in the air we breathe.
These particles remain in our airways and begin to emit radiation, which leads to further damage to the lungs.
When exposure is prolonged, the risk of lung cancer is higher.
According to the World Health Organization, it is estimated that exposure to radon causes between 3% and 14% of lung cancers worldwide.
In Europe, radon exposure is responsible for 9% of lung cancer deaths.
Radon in Portugal
In Portugal, there are certain areas that are more likely to have buildings with high levels of radon inside, such as Braga, Porto, Viseu, Vila Real, among others.
However, the only way to know the concentration of radon is to measure it.
Check out the radon susceptibility map to find out more about the areas in Portugal most exposed to this gas.
Radon in the workplace: how to act?
In the workplace
Employers must ensure that the level of exposure to radon in the workplace is as low as possible and below the national reference level.
Protecting workers
In the event that the workplace is exposed to radon levels above the national reference, even after the company has put in place all the corrective and preventive measures, the workers must be tested and evaluated to find out the dose to which they have been exposed.
Preventive and corrective measures
To ensure that radon concentration levels remain relatively low and below reference levels, preventive measures need to be implemented during the construction phase of buildings.
Preventive measures
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Sealing with prefabricated membranes;
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Depressurization of the ground;
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Natural ventilation.
In the case of a constructed building, it is important to implement corrective measures.
Corrective measures
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Improved mechanical and natural ventilation below the first floor;
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Positive pressurization inside the building;
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Depressurization of the ground beneath the first floor;
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Membranes and/or films against radon on floors and walls;
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Delimitation of affected sites;
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Control of entrances to affected sites;
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Reduced stay in affected locations.
Once the preventive or corrective measures have been implemented, monitoring must be carried out, i.e. it is important to measure the radon concentration levels in order to know whether the measures implemented have been efficient and have reduced the radon levels.
How often should the measurement be taken?
It is advisable to carry out new tests every 5 years or sooner, if work is carried out that has an impact on the ventilation and/or heating of the building, or if there is a change of use.
