UK National Radon Action Plan: second edition draft

Radon is a colourless, odourless radioactive gas, formed by the radioactive decay of the small amounts of primordial elements that occur naturally in all rocks and soils. Radon is the single largest source of radiation exposure to the UK population in both homes and workplaces, and one of the leading causes of lung cancer. Over many years, the UK has researched and developed a set of arrangements for managing radon exposures.

The requirement to prepare the NRAP is Regulation 10 of the Ionising Radiation (Basic Safety Standards) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2018 SI 2018/482. The first UK NRAP was published in 2018, following a public consultation. The regulations require that the NRAP is reviewed within 5 years.

This consultation invites your views on the draft UK National Radon Action Plan, second edition. This revised NRAP reflects the updated arrangements and activities subsequent to the NRAP of 2018.

The government departments and agencies listed as co-authors in the draft NRAP will consider the responses to this consultation, which is being co-ordinated by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

The regulations require that the NRAP “take into account relevant issues identified in Annex XVIII to the Basic Safety Standards Directive” (EU-BSSD). This determines the structure and scope of the NRAP, such as the need for strategies.

The aim of the UK NRAP is to:

• describe the UK radon arrangements that are in place, providing evidence that the UK meets the EU-BSSD requirements
• identify areas for potential future work, including items that are identified in the EU-BSSD as requiring consideration but that the UK does not have in place at present

You will be asked for your views on 4 questions and for any other comments that you may have. All responses will be held according to the UKHSA privacy notice.

As this consultation is UK-wide, a translation of the Executive summary (Crynodeb gweithredol) has been provided in Welsh.