Domestic radon remediation rates and reasons for testing

Abstract

Increasingly, social scientists are interested in the process of decision making – how and why households decide to test and remediate, as well as the decision outcomes or the observed remediation behaviour. A random sample of 1,043 households in Northamptonshire were surveyed to gain insight into all aspects of their experiences with radon gas. Two particular aspects of their experience are explored here. Radon testing in the sample was provided free‐of‐charge to the householders. The main reason given for testing was that they were asked by the National Radiological Protection Board to do so. No household in the sample reported that they tested because of a conveyancing requirement or a desire for a quick future sale of the home. The rates of radon gas remediation observed for the residential population sample varied from 10.3 per cent in the whole sample population to 32 per cent for the respondents only sample. The average cost of remediation (approx. £500) was lower than expected.

Citation

Kennedy, C.A. (2001), "Domestic radon remediation rates and reasons for testing", Environmental Management and Health, Vol. 12 No. 5, pp. 459-464. https://doi.org/10.1108/09566160110404863