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Post Time: 20/02/2008 08:55:29 |
jo2
Total Forum Posts: 19 |
Please could you tell me if somebody who is already sensitive to microwaves/emfs might have a bad reaction to moving to an area in Wales which is known to be affected by radon?
I know that electrosensitivity can be associated with chemical sensitivity, and was wondering if radon might be another associated problem (especially with radon being radioactive). I have read the HPA advice about radon Action Levels and remedial work on houses, but as mobile phone masts are officially harmless, I was wondering what the reality regarding radon might be.
I know it is accepted that radon can cause cancer in the long term, but I am also concerned about short-term symptoms that might make you feel unwell on a day to day basis. I also wonder if levels of radon below the Action Limit could cause problems?
Any information you could give would be appreciated, or even pointing me in the direction of a website that approaches and considers radon as Powerwatch considers emfs/microwaves (I've had no luck with Google).
Many thanks. |
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Post Time: 20/02/2008 10:48:36 |
jo2
Total Forum Posts: 19 |
The other area of the country we are looking at is Cumbria/Dumfries and Galloway, the Borders and Northumberland (ie anywhere around the English/Scottish border). However I think the area is used for military aircraft training, low-flying jets etc. Would this be a problem for an electrosensitive person?
If you had to make a choice based on health grounds, would it be better to risk the radon or the overhead aircraft? (given that the move would be driven by a need to get away from microwave/emf pollution in the first place).
Thank you. |
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Post Time: 21/02/2008 19:00:22 |
alasdairP
Total Forum Posts: 173 |
It is now generally accepted that there is no really safe level of ionising radiation. Having said that, the evidence of harm from radon is controversial as we don't see anything like the increase in cancers in very high radon areas (like parts of Cornwall) that we would expect.
At the UK average indoor exposure of 20 Bq m-3, standard radiation risk factors suggest that 5% of childhood and 4% of adult leukaemia is linked to radon at 20 Bq m-3 exposure. International geographical studies generally support such a link at about this magnitude. They also show that all childhood cancers combined vs. radon concentration do show a dose-response (ref available - ask me if needed) rising by about 25% from the UK average level of 20 Bq m-3 to the Scandinavian average of about 100 Bq m-3; i.e. a small rise in cancers for a 5-fold increase in radon level. A number of case-control studies have been carried out but these in general have not had enough resolving power to determine a link between radon and leukaemia at the level suggested by accepted radiation risk factors.
Smoking significantly increases the risk from radon, especially for lung cancer.
I would personally rate the risk from man-made VOCs from carpeting, soft furniture, plastics, fire-retardants, etc., to be a higher risk to sensitive people than radon. As far as I know there are no reports of radon causing "allergic" type reactions. As long as a house is reasonably ventilated, radon levels are unlikely to build up. I don't know of any really helpful radon websites. Most that are around only look at the (small) increased risk of some cancers. It is dubious if the lung cancer data derived from uranium miners is really relevant to the general population.
Radon gathers in low unventilated areas in a building, so you probably don't want a house in the bottom of a valley in a high-radon area. Also, older stone-built houses often have higher levels than modern cavity wall houses. Old stone or concrete floors downstairs tends to cause higher levels as the radon coming up from the earth cannot escape to outside the house via underfloor ventilation, so it leaks up into the lower rooms.
I wouldn't worry about military flying, but do watch out for airfields, especially miltary ones with powerful radars and also coastguard radars.
It is always worth spending some days (at least) in a new area to get some idea about road and air traffic noise, etc, before proceeding with buying a property. Also watch out for villages/hamlets that don't have a mobile phone mast(s) - if there are more than about 50 houses it may become a target area for a new mast. Find out where the existing local ones are and ask locals how strong their mobile signals are (if they are good, then it is less likely that a new mast will come). All the mobile network Operators offer "coverage maps" on their websites. These can be useful for finding areas with low signals and hence low microwave exposure. If they are rural with only scattered houses then it is probably fairly unlikely that new masts will come unless there is a good tourist attraction nearby - they often target those with nearby masts.
I hope this is helpful.
Alasdair
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Post Time: 22/02/2008 11:24:31 |
jo2
Total Forum Posts: 19 |
Thank you for your help. |
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Post Time: 28/02/2008 08:32:40 |
jo2
Total Forum Posts: 19 |
Hi Alasdair
Having had a good think about all the information you've given me, please could I ask about one of your points? When you say that a house at the bottom of a valley in a high-radon area is probably not the best idea, is this because the house itself is more likely to have radon in it, or because the radon gas might gather in the valley and so levels might be raised even in the garden, for example?
- and given that there aren't any good websites that address any shorter-term radon symptoms (other than cancer), do you know of any good books!
Thanks again.
Jo |
