When it is very cold outside, many people keep their windows shut – but the risk of deadly radon gas rises if you don't air your living space. You can't smell or see it, but do measure and avoid it. Berlin (dpa) – When temperatures are freezing, many people ventilate their homes much less frequently. This can significantly increase the level of radioactive radon in the home, experts warn. Radon, a colourless and odourless gas, is the most important cause of lung cancer after tobacco smoke. "Even in winter, you should remember to ventilate frequently used rooms or offices in the basement thoroughly." Do this briefly and intensively, creating a draught if you can. Don't just do this every few days, either, as radon concentration rises back to its previous level within a few hours of ventilation. Depending on the building, the radon concentration in an unventilated basement room in winter can be five to ten times higher than in a well-ventilated room in summer, according to Germany's Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS). Also, a barely noticeable negative pressure is created in houses when warm air from heating rises in the house in winter. The suction effect causes radon-containing air from the subsoil to be drawn into the building. The gas reaches the upper floors via staircases, lifts or chimney shafts, says the Lung Information Service of the Helmholtz Centre in Munich. An additional problem is that, as a result of energy-saving measures, many buildings have been better insulated – but are therefore also more shielded from the outside air. However, radon concentrations vary greatly from region to region. Why is radon dangerous? Radon decay products are deposited in the lungs and cause cell damage through alpha radiation, making the gas the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. According to the Lung Information Service, for every 100 becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m³) of indoor air, the relative risk increases by an estimated 16%. ‘The higher the radon concentration in the indoor air and the longer we stay there, the higher the risk of developing lung cancer.’ It often takes decades for the disease to actually develop. Due to a strong interaction, most cases of radon-induced lung cancer occur in smokers. Every year, around 20,000 people die of radon-related lung cancer in the EU alone, according to the BfS. Radon does not cause acute health problems such as headaches and asthma. Where does radon come from? This radioactive noble gas is produced by the natural decay of uranium and radium in the soil. It depends on your local conditions, but in parts of Europe, it poses a health risk primarily in mountainous regions and underground living spaces. Sites near mines and caves can also be at risk. The gas dilutes quickly in the outside air and does not normally pose a problem. However, it can also enter houses from the ground through cracks in the foundation, leaky pipe penetrations, cable ducts or open pores in walls. The highest radon concentrations typically occur in basements and ground floors. However, the gas also enters upper floors via stairwells, shafts, chimneys, cable ducts or leaky ceilings, exacerbated by the chimney effect, which is also present to a lesser extent in summer: warm air rises and draws air from below. How much is too much? Based on lung cancer risks, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has set a reference value of 100 becquerels per cubic metre of indoor air for the maximum acceptable radon concentration. Germany has set a far less stringent reference value of 300 becquerels per cubic metre for living spaces such as living rooms and bedrooms, as well as workplaces in buildings. "Because radon concentrations fluctuate greatly throughout the year, the annual average value is used for health assessment," according to the BfS. "Even with a large difference between winter and summer, the radon values in a building can be within the normal range on average." How can I tell if my home is affected? Check what resources are available in your area. Statements about individual buildings can never be derived from the forecast maps, however. They can only be made by taking measurements in the respective building, experts say. It is also not possible to draw conclusions about the situation in a neighbouring house based on the situation in one house. "The situation in the soil, the structural conditions and user behaviour can vary significantly from house to house." The BfS advises using the cold season in particular for radon measurements. "If radon levels are low in winter, you can be fairly sure that they will also be low in summer," says Bernd Hoffmann, radon expert at the BfS. Passive radon measuring devices are the easiest way to measure radon. You set them up yourself in your home and send them back to the supplier at the end of the measurement period, who then evaluates them and informs you of the results. A measuring device may cost around €50 or $50 but see what is available where you live. Important: If you work from home a lot, you should include your private office space in the measurement in addition to your living room and bedroom. What if the level is high? Regularly airing out rooms by opening windows wide reduces the radon concentration on the ground floor quickly. Experts recommend that cellar doors should be closed and sealed. Cracks, joints, pipe penetrations and cable ducts in the floor or on walls of the ground floor that are in contact with the ground should also be sealed. In individual cases, a type of drainage under the floor of the house or special ventilation systems are recommended. For new buildings or renovations, there are gas-tight floor slabs or radon barrier films. Low radon levels – all good? Even with low radon levels in the room, experts emphasise the importance of good ventilation, even in winter. The gas is just one of many pollutants that contaminate indoor air and pose health risks. These include formaldehyde from furniture and adhesives, plasticisers from floor coverings and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from wood preservatives. Further risks include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from paints, cosmetics and cleaning products. Such toxins can cause cancer, impair fertility or harm unborn children. Again it will vary but Europeans now spend an average of around 90% of their time indoors, say experts. This makes toxins in indoor air particularly relevant. Every day, a person breathes in around 10 to 20 cubic metres of air. The following information is not intended for publication dpa kll hu xxde arw coh
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