About the survey
We’re recruiting households in east Perth and selected suburbs in Canberra to update our radon survey information and advice.
Radon is a naturally occurring, odourless gas that comes from the radioactive decay of radium, which is present in small amounts in rocks and soil. It can accumulate, particularly in locations with poor ventilation. When we breathe in radon these particles can cause damage to the lung tissue. Such damage can lead to lung cancer. The risk of developing lung cancer from exposure to radon depends on how much radon we breathe in. In Australia, that risk is low because our radon exposure is about one quarter of the worldwide average.
Why this survey is important?
We want to make sure that our assessment and advice for this risk is accurate in areas where there could be elevated radon levels due to geology, house design and living conditions. We’ve identified east Perth and selected suburbs in Canberra as being locations of interest based on current Geoscience Australia data.
Radon levels in Australia are low, and do not pose a public health risk.
Radon levels are highly variable and are mostly influenced by the flow of air through the home. How houses are constructed has changed a lot since we last did a comprehensive survey on radon in households in the late 1980s. Modern energy-efficient construction techniques, such as improved insulation and airtight buildings, can increase indoor radon levels by reducing ventilation and trapping radon inside. In addition, environmental factors, like local geology, can increase the radon available to accumulate in homes in these areas compared to the rest of the country. It is our assessment that these areas are exposed to safe levels of radon. But we want to perform measurements to confirm that this assessment is accurate.
How are we undertaking this study?
We want to recruit 300 or more people that live in one of the east Perth or our Canberra postcodes below:
| ACT postcodes | WA postcodes |
| 2900 | 6056 |
| 2903 | 6070 |
| 2904 | 6071 |
| 2905 | |
| 2906 | |
| 2911 | |
| 2913 | |
| 2914 |
To be eligible to participate in this study, you must be able to securely store a radon monitor inside your home, at the same spot, for 12 months.
In return, you will receive a free scientific assessment of the radon concentration in your home.
What are the monitors?
These monitors contain a Polyallyl Diglycol Carbonate (PADC) plastic plaque enclosed inside a holder to measure average radon concentration. PADC is a clear, colourless material, known more commonly as CR-39 (‘Columbia Resin number 39’). Radon atoms that undergo alpha decay in the vicinity of the material leave small damage tracks in the plastic. After the study period, we will take the plastic out of the container to analyse it for a measurement of the radon concentrations inside your home. For this reason, we won’t be able to tell you how much radon is inside your home until after the study. But we do not expect to find elevated levels in your home. If your residence is an anomaly, we will be able to advise you how to reduce the radon concentration.
Where do you need to place the monitors?
The meter should be placed in a room and left in position to give an accurate measurement. It should not be moved during a measurement. The meter will give the most accurate results if placed between 0.5 m and 1.5 m high in the approximate centre of the room. The meter should not be exposed to direct sunlight or moisture.
Avoid placing the meter near the following items as they may alter the measured concentration:
- Granite benchtops
- Brick or stone walls
- Ventilation ducts, air conditioners or fans
- Open windows
Results
The data collected will be added to that already published on our radon map webpage.
How do I participate?
To participate in this survey, please complete this form:
Please read our Privacy Impact Assessment regarding how we manage your personal information.
