Is radon gas a hazard in Thame?

No, or so we thought until we commissioned a radon risk assessment in the basement of the Town Hall which found higher than expected levels and recommended some simple and inexpensive measures to mitigate any risk.
 
Radon is a colourless, odourless gas formed by the radioactive decay of the small amounts of uranium that occur naturally in granite. The gas seeps slowly into the air and because it emits alpha radiation, can be detrimental to health.

Levels in Thame are generally low and of no concern but concentrations can build up in poorly ventilated spaces, so if your house or business has a cellar which is in regular use, perhaps as a home office or a  playroom, you may wish to seek reassurance by getting it tested.    

Radon concentrations vary considerably between adjacent buildings, as well as within a building from day to day and from hour to hour, so the more reliable tests sample over a longer period. Test kits validated by Public Health England contain two detectors (one for the cellar, one for the room above), test over a period of three months and cost around £52.00. For further information, or to order a test kit, visit https://www.ukradon.org