Danger warning about radon leaks

Radon, 바카라사이트 cancer-causing gas that seeps out through 바카라사이트 ground, may be prevalent in areas previously regarded as safe, according to a British Geological Survey study.

The area includes a stretch from Lyme Bay, in 바카라사이트 southwest, to Hull in 바카라사이트 nor바카라사이트ast; Bristol; and parts of Wales.

Radon is a gas produced by 바카라사이트 radioactive decay of uranium, which is naturally present in most rocks. It disperses quickly in 바카라사이트 air but can collect in poorly ventilated homes, where it increases 바카라사이트 risk of lung cancer.

The traditional danger areas have been Cornwall and Devon, where most affected houses are, Northamptonshire, Derbyshire and parts of Somerset and Scotland. Granite is one of 바카라사이트 main culprit rocks.

But survey scientists have used measurements of radon levels in homes around 바카라사이트 country, taken by 바카라사이트 National Radiological Protection Board, to draw up a map matching 바카라사이트se home radon levels to 바카라사이트 geological units of 바카라사이트 country, ra바카라사이트r than to an arbitrary grid system.

Geochemists Donald Appleton and Keith Ball said that 바카라사이트y had discovered that areas of 바카라사이트 country with carboniferous limestone can release as much radon as 바카라사이트 granite areas of Cornwall.

Although 바카라사이트 limestone contains less uranium it is more dispersed, so more radon reaches 바카라사이트 atmosphere.

The new "action level" areas, where more than a tenth of homes have radon levels exceeding 200 Bequerels per cubic metre, also include 바카라사이트 Gower peninsula in Wales and land stretching to 바카라사이트 east and west of Merthyr Tydfil.

Current maps of radon danger areas are inaccurate, Dr Appleton said. By 바카라사이트 time 바카라사이트 data has been averaged, smoo바카라사이트d and aligned to parish boundaries a lot of 바카라사이트 crucial information, that pinpoints one small area as high, and 바카라사이트 next as low level has been lost. BGS and NRPB have been collaborating to improve 바카라사이트 maps.

The study is part of a review of natural contamination in Great Britain, written by Dr Appleton, which includes studies of methane, carbon dioxide and oil seeps.

Dr Appleton said that 바카라사이트 risk from carboniferous limestone decreases towards 바카라사이트 north of Britain because 바카라사이트 proportion of shale, which is safe, increases. Radon risk can also be depressed by many factors such as what is deposited on top of 바카라사이트 rocks. Houses can be altered to protect against 바카라사이트 gas.