Government urged to act on Radon, the ‘Invisible Killer’

The UK Radon Association (UKRA) has written to Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting to demand government intervention against radon gas, which is responsible for over 1,100 lung cancer deaths annually in the UK.

The letter, timed to coincide with Radon Awareness Week 2025 – which carries the theme ‘Invisible Gas, Visible Risk’ – challenges ministers to extend their public health focus beyond the Tobacco and Vapes Bill and address one of Britain’s most overlooked causes of cancer.

Dr Maria Dugdale, Chair of the UK Radon Association said: ‘If the Government is serious about creating a smoke-free generation, it must also protect children and families from other preventable causes of lung cancer.

‘Radon exposure is an entirely avoidable risk, yet thousands of people remain unaware they’re being exposed in their own homes, schools, and workplaces.’

Radon is a colourless, odourless radioactive gas produced by uranium decay in rocks and soil. It can accumulate to dangerous levels inside buildings, particularly in rooms below ground. The gas is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.

The letter, signed on behalf of all 30 UKRA members, outlines three key demands:

1. Launch a nationwide radon communications campaign for schools, ensuring all schools understand and meet their legal duty to assess and manage radon risks. It is believed that two-thirds of schools in radon-affected areas have never been tested.
2. Extend awareness efforts to nurseries and early years settings, including privately run institutions, a sector that has been overlooked in previous radon initiatives but where young children spend many hours each week.
3. Distribute radon information through local health services and health visitor teams, to help families understand the risks at home and take preventative action.

The association point out that children may be particularly vulnerable due to their faster breathing rates and smaller lung size, which can lead to higher radon doses and increased lifetime cancer risk.

Dr Dugdale said: ‘This is a moment for the Government to do what government’s before have failed to do and show real leadership around radon. By taking simple, coordinated action now, we can prevent unnecessary suffering, save lives, and protect future generations.’