NHS Borders and Scottish Borders Council (SBC) are working with the Health Protection Agency (HPA) who will offer free radon tests to residents in parts of the Scottish Borders, in a project funded by the Scottish Government.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas which is colourless, odourless and tasteless and is known to increase the lifetime risk of lung cancer.

The HPA has advised that approximately 900 homes in Scottish Borders are in areas where high radon levels are more likely.

The HPA will write direct to residents and send them a free test kit on the return of a slip enclosed with their letter. Housing associations, which own about 200 of the homes, are being contacted separately by the Agency.

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The kit comes with full instructions and contains two small monitors which should be placed in the main living area and a bedroom in normal use. After three months the monitors are returned to the Health Protection Agency in a prepaid envelope.

Results will then be sent directly to the household, with advice on what to do next. If the readings are high, then there are practical measures which can be taken to reduce levels of the gas such as improving the under-floor ventilation or installing a pump to prevent the radon from the ground entering the home.

Householders in parts of the Borders that are not in the free testing scheme can check their radon risk and obtain a test at a reduced price on the HPA’s UK radon website www.ukradon.org.

Householders will be able to discuss their results with experts from the HPA and obtain information and impartial advice, at special local events.

(GK)