A newcomer to the technical diagnosis file: radon! Classified as a carcinogen, radon is thought to cause between 1,200 and 3,000 deaths a year, making it the second leading cause of lung cancer after tobacco.
To improve information for buyers and tenants, the statement of natural and technological risks, a compulsory document attached to all property sales and lettings, will include radon exposure risks by 1 July 2017 at the latest.
This additional information stems from the Order of 10 February 2016 containing various provisions on nuclear matters.
Location of areas at risk
Not all geographical areas are on the same footing. The Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN) has produced a map showing the risk of exposure to Radon in each département.
As with areas at risk from natural, mining or technological hazards, areas potentially affected by radon will be identified by regulation. Precise zoning, possibly at municipal level, should be published as recommended by the IRSN (Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire).
The areas most affected by radon are the geological formations that are naturally richest in uranium. This is particularly true of large granite massifs such as the Massif Central, the Armorican Massif, Corsica and the Vosges mountains.
The risks of radon
Radon is a naturally occurring, odourless, colourless gas that emanates from the disintegration of uranium in the earth's crust. Radon gas is dangerous when present in enclosed spaces such as basements, where it can accumulate to high concentrations. This has consequences for the health of people who are regularly exposed to the gas. Radon, on the other hand, presents no danger in the open air, as it dissipates very quickly.
The radon that could potentially be present in homes penetrates unsealed spaces in direct contact with the ground.
To solve the problem, the parts of the building in contact with the ground can be sealed or the air can be renewed by natural or mechanical ventilation.
Kits are available for measuring radon levels in homes.
