On 21 July 2023, Emma Elgee reported:
A private boarding school has been fined £50,000 after exposing five pupils, two employees and their children to high levels of radioactive radon gas.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found Kingswood School in Bath had not monitored radon levels for eight years.
Kingswood School Trustees Limited pleaded guilty to the offences.[1]
Moreover, the school paid £19,222 costs and a spokesperson apologised for the school’s failure to manage radon gas exposures. What were their exposure levels to the radioactive radon gas? In 2019 five pupils were exposed to “almost eight times the legal limit.” Two employees were exposed to three-quarters of the legal limit. Moreover, their two children who were not pupils at the school, but who were living with them on the premises, were exposed “to almost 14 times the legal limit”. Sadly, the school knew about the radon risks in 2007 and although it had taken action to monitor the levels and installed some remediation, from 2010 to 2018 the school failed to adequately monitor the levels. An intervention by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) identified the failures and resulted in prosecution under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
Elgee noted, “HSE principal specialist inspector Stewart Robertson, said: ‘The fine imposed on Kingswood School Trustees Limited should underline to everyone in the education sector that the courts, and HSE, take a failure to follow the regulations extremely seriously.’”
Moreover, Dartmoor prison has high levels of radon gas exposing prisoners and prison staff. Although, the prison was closed in August 2024 many people are involved in collectively suing the MoJ (Ministry of Justice).[2] Jonathan Morris comments, “Prison bosses face a formal public censure after inmates and staff were exposed to dangerous levels of radon gas at Dartmoor Prison.”[3]
What is the issue? Naturally occurring radioactive radon gas is colourless and odourless, so we cannot detect it with our natural senses, but it is present in our homes, schools, workplaces, churches etc. Its main source is from rocks and soil containing uranium and radium. Radon is drawn from the ground into indoor air which people breathe. Radon, and particularly its radioactive decay products, irradiate our lungs and increase our cancer risk.
As a scientist (and theologian), I discussed radon in my 2018 JRI Briefing Paper, but as it remains an important health risk, I address it here.[4] The UK’s first National Radon Action Plan (published 2018) is being updated by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) as UK National Radon Action Plan second edition, draft for consultation (NRAP) which I address below.[5] This NRAP is wide-ranging but my discussion mainly considers indoor radon.
Radon is a carcinogen and increased exposure brings higher risks. However, smokers and ex-smokers have much higher risks. It is estimated that in the UK indoor exposure results in 1,100 lung cancer deaths annually. Therefore, over decades data has been collected from homes and workplaces and used to produce radon potential maps.[6] Data collected in 2010 shows that the average annual UK radiation dose is 2.7 mSv and surprisingly 48% of this exposure is attributed to radon gas from the ground. It is the single largest exposure source.[7] Radon levels in premises vary considerably across the country. Incidentally, radon is an international issue, e.g. “Radon exposure leads to more lung cancer deaths every year than any other environmental source in the United States – an estimated 21,000 lives are lost to lung cancer from radon each year.”[8]
Explore the UKHSA interactive Radon Map here to find the risk in your area.
UK legislation requires the setting of reference levels in homes/dwellings. Although the UK average radon in air is low at 4 Bq m-3,indoor levels can be much higher.[9] The primary reference level, based on the annual average airborne concentration, is 200 Bq m-3. At this level decisions are required about reducing radon levels in homes. In 2010, a further supporting target level came into effect of 100 Bq m-3. NRAP 2.1.1 notes this takes account of current and ex-smokers because of their high risk. Some parts of the country are designated as “radon-affected areas” when there is “with a 1% or more probability of present or future homes being above theaction level” (NRAP Glossary). There are organisations (validated by UKSA) offering reliable radon measurements using passive detectors. The standard method is to use two detectors for three months. One is positioned in the main living room and another in an occupied bedroom. The detectors are despatched for analysis and results compared with the action levels. If high levels are found, householders are advised to reduce radon levels using recognised mitigation methods.[10]
Workplaces come under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 requiring employers to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of employees etc., and conduct risk assessments.[11] Employers need to be aware that regulations cover homeworking and hybrid working (NRAP 3.3.3). Levels exceeding 300 Bq m-3 require compliance with the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017.
Specifically, NRAP 2.2.2 states, “in occupied workplaces below ground, which includes the basement areas of buildings and mines and caves, the risk assessment should include radon measurements irrespective of the radon-affected area status.”
Regarding climate change, NRAP 1.2.6 recognises that physical changes in buildings that affect ventilation “can adversely affect the indoor radon level.” This may impact on energy efficiency measures. Also, NRAP 3.3.1 states, “Action: UKHSA and other stakeholders to seek out and become increasingly involved in programmes on climate change to raise awareness of the health risks from radon and avoid changes to building regulations or other standards that increase radon levels.” It is a sensible approach.
Moreover, an important letter was sent to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care from the UK Radon Association expressing concerns and proposals regarding protecting children.[12] It includes, “This means it is likely that more than 100,000 children are being exposed to high levels of radon whilst at school.” And requests, “The Government will create a secondary communications initiative targeting early years settings such as nurseries and pre-schools, many of which are privately run, to ensure they understand and comply with their duty to assess radon risks in the same way schools must.” This letter’s concerns require Government responses.
Finally, what about church premises where staff are employed? Do risk assessments address radon? And are assessments undertaken for nurseries and pre-schools on church premises? Moreover, are we measuring radon in our homes?
So, can Christians rise to these environmental challenges with right responses?[13]
Dr Robert S. Dutch
(Robert S. Dutch worked as a scientist in radiation protection. Further, he holds a PhD in theology. Before retirement, he was a course administrator and tutor in NT Greek at Bristol Baptist College.)
[1] Emma Elgee, BBC News, 21 July 2023, ‘Bath school given £50K fine for exposing pupils to radioactive gas’. Accessed 7 July 2026 at Bath school given £50K fine for exposing pupils to radioactive gas – BBC News
[2] Michael Harland, UKSN UK Safety News 3 April 2026, ‘Prison evacuations follow dangerous radon gas exposure at HMP Dartmoor’. Accessed 16 July 2026 at Prison evacuations follow dangerous radon gas exposure at HMP Dartmoor – UK Safety News
[3] Jonathan Morris, BBC News, 13 May 2026, ‘Prison radon failings bring censure of jail bosses.’ Accessed 16 July 2026 at Dartmoor Prison radiation failings bring censure of jail bosses – BBC News
[4] Robert S. Dutch, JRI Briefing Paper Number 37, July 2018 ‘Natural Radioactivity, Radiation Exposure and Our Environment,’ pp. 3-5. Accessed 7 July 2026 at Natural Radioactivity, Radiation Exposure and Our Environment – BP37 – The John Ray Initiative
[5] UKHSA, UK National Radon Action Plan second edition, draft for consultation¸ November 2023. Accessed 9 July 2026 at UK National Radon Action Plan: second edition draft – GOV.UK. An email to me from the UKHSA gave reasons for its delay in publication: staff needs at UKSA and a by-election.
[6] See NRAP 2.1.2 Figure 2 for a UK radon map.
[7] See NRAP 1.2.2 pp. 8-9 with a helpful Figure 1. 2.7 mSv is 2.7 millisieverts – a unit of radiation dose. This figure was updated to 2.6 mSv in June 2025. See UKHSA, ‘Ionising radiation exposure of the UK population, published June 2025.’ Accessed 29 July 2026 at Radiation Protection Services – Ionising radiation exposure of the UK population, published June 2025
[8] The National Radon Action Plan 2021–2025: Eliminating Preventable Lung Cancer From Radon in the United States by Expanding Protections for All Communities and Buildings, January 2022, p. 2. Accessed 21 July 2026 at The National Radon Action Plan 2021–2025
[9] NRAP 1.1.1. Note 4 Bq m-3 is the activity (in becquerels) per cubic metre. 1 Bq = 1 transformation per second.
[10] NRAP 2.1.4 notes measurements and mitigation work are undertaken by companies. See the Radon Council (The Radon Council) and/or UK Radon Association (UK Radon Association · Helping to improve understanding of radon and reduce the risk of exposure in UK homes & workplaces).
[11] And the equivalent Northern Ireland legislation.
[12] Maria Dugdale, 3 November 2025, ‘An Open Letter to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.’ Accessed 17 July 2026 at An Open Letter to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care | UK Radon Awareness Week
[13] Also, see Martin J. Hodson, JRI blog, 23 April 2026, ‘Christian Faith without Environmental Action?’ Accessed 18 July 2026 at Christian Faith without Environmental Action? – The John Ray Initiative