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Italy: Radon

Overview

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas formed underground by the radioactive decay of uranium, which is present in small quantities in rocks and soils and is particularly prevalent in parts of Sardinia and Trentino-Alto Adige. After surfacing in the open air, radon is quickly diluted to harmless concentrations. However, when it enters an enclosed space, such as a house, it can build up to potentially harmful concentrations. The acceptable limit for radon concentration (known as the ‘reference level’) is 200 becquerels per cubic metre of air (200Bq/m3). It has been shown that prolonged exposure to concentrations of radon above this level increases the chance of contracting lung cancer, and in a few homes in Italy there’s a significant health risk for occupants. You can have a test carried out to check the level of radon in a building or on a plot. In areas that are particularly at risk you should contract the services of a surveyor or geometra to carry out tests. There are several websites providing regional radon maps (although there appears to be no national survey). For example, the website for Trentino-Alto Adige (www.provincia.bz.it – in several languages, including English) has a useful map showing high-risk areas; look for ‘GeoBrowser’ in the ‘Maps and Cartography’ section.

© Survival Books Limited 2003

“Buying a Home in Italy” 3rd Edition, David Hampshire.

Reproduced with the permission of Survival Books Limited.

Further information on this topic can be found in “Buying a Home in Italy” 3rd edition, by David Hampshire.

For extensive information about buying a property in Italy, you can purchase this book at www.survivalbooks.net