ARPANSA Fact Sheet 26 Radon Map of Australia 619 Lower Plenty Road, Yallambie VIC 3085

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Last updated: May 2011 Fax: + 61 3 9432 1835
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency 2011
Fact Sheet 26
Radon Map of Australia
ARPANSA has prepared a radon map of Australia that shows the average indoor
radon levels for each postcode district.

1990 Australian Radon Survey
In 1990, scientists from the Australian Radiation Laboratory
(now part of the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear
Safety Agency) conducted a nationwide survey of more than
3300 Australian homes to determine the average annual
radiation dose to the Australian population from exposure to
natural background radiation. The results show that the
average concentration of radon in Australian homes is about
11 Bq m
-3
. This compares to a global average indoor value of
40 Bq m
-3
.This is less than in many other countries and is not
much larger than radon levels in outside air. Consequently,
there is little cause for concern that the health of the
population is at undue risk from radon in homes. Units for
expressing radon concentration are explained on ARPANSAs
website: www.arpansa.gov.au/radiationprotection/Basics/units.cfm
What the radon map shows
The survey also found a very wide range of radon levels
across Australia. ARPANSA is preparing maps of indoor radon
and terrestrial radiation for Australia, based on a reanalysis
of the 1990 survey data. The radon map of Australia shows
the average indoor radon levels for each postcode district.
The radon map shows that average radon levels in homes
along the Great Dividing Range are typically higher that levels
in homes on the coastal plan, mainly due to differences in the
nature of the underlying rock and soil. For example, the
average indoor radon levels for the ACT is 16 Bq m
-3
,
compared with the NSW average of 9 Bq m
-3
.
Google Earth
The survey averages for each postcode district are also
available as a Google Earth map file. Google Earth is an
application that needs to be downloaded and installed on
your computer. To view this Google Earth map file you need
to:
1. Download and install the Google Earth application
from the Google Earth website
(www.google.com/earth/index.html).
2. Download the Google Earth map file:
(www.arpansa.gov.au/pubs/factsheets/ARLBG1990Survey
AveragesbyPostcode.kmz ). The map will open in the
Google Earth application.
How to reduce radon levels in your home
For those homes having very high concentrations of radon, it
may be desirable to take action to reduce the radon levels, in
order to reduce the risk of the occupants contracting lung
cancer. In ARPANSA Radiation Protection Series No. 1,
Recommendations for Limiting Exposure to Ionizing
Radiation, it is recommended that an annual average radon
concentration of 200 Bq m
-3
be used as the Action Level for
simple remedial action in Australian homes. Where the
concentration exceeds this level, householders should
consult the appropriate state, territory or Commonwealth
radiation health authority for advice. Remedial action is not
considered necessary where the annual average radon
concentration in a dwelling is below 200 Bq m
-3
. Only a very
small fraction of Australian homes (less than 0.1%) have been
found to exceed the Action Level.
Follow-up survey
ARPANSA is planning a follow up survey of indoor radon, to
assess the effects of energy efficiency measures in homes on
radon levels and to determine geographical areas where the
indoor radon levels may be of concern. For individual
households, ARPANSA provides a low cost commercial radon
measurement service. See www.arpansa.gov.au/prms/index.cfm
for more information.