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What is radiation?
Microwave ovens
Mobile phones and reducing risk of radiation
Wi-Fi
Electricity Power Lines and Pylons
Electricity sub stations
Radon – levels in Spelthorne, health effects, does it affect me?
What is radiation?
Radiation is the energy produced by certain manmade materials, and by naturally-occurring radioactive minerals underground. There are two types of radiation:
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Ionising
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Can change cell structure in living organisms
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Natural sources (gamma rays and radioactive radon gas from certain rocks and cosmic radiation from outer space), medical uses such as x-rays or radiation therapy for cancer treatment, and radiation from nuclear fuels and weapons.
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Non-ionising
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Has less energy than ionising radiation
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Microwaves from some mobile phones, microwave ovens, and Radio Frequency radiation from mobile phones and their base stations, Wi-Fi, radio and television antennae and power lines.
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Where can I find out more?
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) is the main authority for radiation in the UK. It researches about protection from the risks of these radiations; provides laboratory and technical services; runs training courses; and provides expert information. For further information, visit the HPA’s website (external link).
Microwave ovens
Food cooked in a microwave oven does not present a radiation risk. Microwaves cease to exist as soon as the power to the microwave generator (magnetron) is switched off, and they do not remain in the food.
Mobile phones
For a number of years the public has raised concerns about health effects from both mobile phones and phone masts (base stations).
The main guidance on possible health effects of radio frequency radiation from mobile phones continues to be the Stewart Report, published in May 2000. Further information can be found on the Health Protection Agency’s website (external link).
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The conclusions of the Stewart Report include the following:
- Below guidelines, research shows that there are no health effects to the general population caused by mobile phones
- Below guidelines, the research can’t say that there is no potential for risk to some people from mobile phones, so caution is advised.
- Base stations generally cause no health problems to people living nearby because exposures are well below the guidelines. But sometimes there can be an effect on their wellbeing.
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What can I do to reduce my risk from mobile phones?
The HPA does not believe that reducing exposure to radiation further below the guidelines will necessarily benefit health. Nevertheless, people choosing mobile phones should be provided with information about their exposure from each model of handset that they are interested in so they can compare them. Ways to reduce exposure include looking at a measure of the radiation given off by your make and model of mobile phone, the use of approved hands-free kits, and reducing the number and duration of calls made.
- Mobile phone radiation levels
Mobile phone companies are required to undertake compliance testing to make sure the amount of energy absorbed by the body when using a mobile phone is within guideline levels.
Compliance is checked at the highest certified power level of the phone in laboratory conditions. However, the actual amount of energy absorbed is likely to be much lower than this because the phone is designed to always use the minimum power required to reach the network. And so, the closer you are to a base station, the more likely it is that the actual radiation level will be lower while using the phone.
All phones sold in the UK have to be tested to ensure they meet compliance. (The guideline level is two watts per kilogram when averaged over any 10 grams of tissue and any six minute period.)
Here you can find out the out the radiation level of your make and model of mobile phone (external link).
- Distance from the head
The antenna is the main source of the radio waves that produce radiation. Moving the phone away from the head, by using a hands free kit for example, will reduce the radiation absorbed by the head but may increase the radiation exposure of other parts of the body.
- Frequency of use and call duration
Using a mobile phone less will give rise to lower exposure
Wi-Fi
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has found that there is no consistent evidence that exposure to Radio Frequency signals from Wi-Fi adversely affects the health of the general population.
The signals from Wi-Fi are very low power, in both the computer and the mast (or router) and resulting exposures should be well within internationally accepted guidelines
The frequencies used are broadly the same as those from other Radio Frequency (RF) applications such as FM radio, TV and mobile phones and based on current knowledge, the HPA believe that RF exposures from Wi-Fi are likely to be lower than those from mobile phones.
On the basis of current scientific information, exposures from Wi-Fi equipment satisfy international guidelines. There is no consistent evidence of health effects from RF exposures below guideline levels and the HPA conclude that there is no reason why schools and others should not use Wi-Fi equipment.
Electricity power lines and pylons
For a number of years, there has been concern about cancer risks among persons living near to power lines and other sources of electromagnetic fields.
Where homes are greatly exposed to low frequency magnetic fields, there is a possibility of double the risk of leukemia in children. However such low frequencies are rarely encountered in the UK.
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Following the Childhood Cancer Study the Health Protection Agency was satisfied that the data showed there was no increased risk.
More information on this topic can be found on the Health Protection Agency's website (external link).
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Electricity sub stations
Local area substations are sources of magnetic and potentially electric radiation fields. The Health Protection Agency (external link) has carried out a survey in order to characterise magnetic fields around them. In all cases, at distances varying between 5 and 10m from the boundary fence, magnetic fields were at levels typical of low household magnetic fields.
A National Grid Company survey also found that in the vicinity of housing the electromagnetic field became indistinguishable from the background due to other domestic sources within 5m.
Radon
What is Radon?
Radon is a natural radioactive gas. You cannot see, hear, feel or taste it. It comes from the tiny amounts of uranium that occur naturally in all rocks and soils. Radon is present in all parts of the UK, although the gas disperses outdoors so levels are generally very low. Radon is mostly associated with the granite geology of the south west of England, but high levels of radon can be found outside of granite areas.
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has advised that there should be no indoor radon above the Action Level of 200 becquerels per cubic metre. Most homes in the UK have fairly low radon levels, with an average of about 20 becquerels per cubic metre.
What are the Radon Levels in Spelthorne?
In November 2007, the HPA updated their mapping of radon levels across the country. To accompany the detailed mapping they have also prepared a new radon atlas which gives indicative radon levels for the UK. This atlas gives the highest radon potential found within each 1km grid square of the map.
This atlas shows that the majority of the Borough is not a radon Affected Area.
However, the new atlas now shows that to the west of the Borough, in Runnymede, there is an area where 1 - 3% of homes may be at or above the radon Action Level. Some properties on the extreme western edge of Spelthorne’s borough may also be affected – this could impact properties close to the River Thames in southern Staines and Laleham.
What are the possible health effects of Radon?
We all breathe it in throughout our lives - for most UK residents, radon accounts for half of their total annual radiation dosage. The main danger from high radon exposure is the increased risk of lung cancer from long-term exposure over a lifetime. Risks from short-term exposures are very small. There is no indication that the risk to children is any greater than that for adults.
How do I find out if my home or new home is affected?
You can find out if your house is in an area that may be affected by radon by going to Spelthorne's planning portal. Once you type in your address, navigate to "click to view details" and the information is listed under "constraints".
It will tell you if the property lies in an area (or within 25m of the area) where radon may affect between 1 - 3% of homes at or above the Action Level.
For further information about the possibility of your property being affected by radon, we recommend you contact the Health Protection Agency (HPA).
Even in Affected Areas most homes have low levels of radon, and high levels can generally be reduced at fairly moderate cost.
The HPA therefore states that concern about radon should not influence your choice of home. Before you move you can obtain a report which will indicate whether or not the property concerned is in a Radon Affected Area. Such a Radon Risk Report can be obtained for only a few pounds from the HPA's radon website (external link)
The only way to find out for sure if a particular house has a high radon level is to test it, so if the property is in an Affected Area the vendor should be asked if a result is available. Otherwise, your solicitor should be asked to arrange retention of a sum to cover radon mitigation work should a subsequent test show it to be necessary.
Small radon detectors can be sent directly to householders by post, and returned at the end of a three month period – so no visit is required. Radon causes invisible damage to the plastic inside the detector. This damage can be measured and used to calculate the radon level. The householder is sent the result by letter with advice about what this means and on ways to reduce the levels. The cost of ordering a radon detector pack from the HPA is around £45.
If you would like to find out more information about radon please visit the HPA website or to order a search report or a detector pack please visit the HPA's radon website (external link)
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