Radon

Measurable and fixable, so don’t be scared

Radon is a radioactive noble gas that forms naturally when radium breaks down. You cannot see, smell or feel it, but it is present in the indoor air of many Swedish homes. The important thing to know: radon can be measured, and a high level can almost always be brought down.

The line is drawn at 200 Bq/m3

Sweden uses a reference level of 200 Bq/m3 (becquerel per cubic metre) for radon in homes. If the level is above that, action should be taken, and for new construction 200 Bq/m3 applies as the limit value. The increase in risk is gradual: the risk of lung cancer rises by about 16 percent per 100 Bq/m3 with long-term exposure. Radon is the second most common cause of lung cancer after smoking, and is estimated to cause around 500 lung cancer cases a year in Sweden.

Ask for a radon measurement

Ask the estate agent for a radon report (radonprotokoll). If one exists and shows a level below 200 Bq/m3, you can relax. If there is no measurement, which is common, that is no reason to walk away. It is something you can measure yourself after the purchase. An elevated level is usually a matter of price and remedy, not a deal-breaker: it can generally be reduced with ventilation or measures against ground radon leaking in.