BfS receives radon data for research

Transmission of radon measurements

In order to protect the health of their employees, employers in radon precautionary areas must measure the radon concentration in certain workplaces. If necessary, they must take action against elevated radon levels. The Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) can use the anonymised results of these measurements for research purposes in order to gain further knowledge for protection against radon. The basis for this is a new regulation in the Radiation Protection Ordinance.

Radon increases the risk of lung cancer

Radon is a radioactive gas that is formed in the ground everywhere in Germany; the quantities vary depending on the location. Radon can enter buildings through pores, cracks, and crevices and thus accumulate in the indoor air. Inhaling radon over a longer period of time increases the risk of developing lung cancer.

In radon precautionary areas, the reference value for protection against radon in buildings is exceeded more often than average. Special requirements for protection against radon thus apply there. Among other things, employers must have the radon concentration at workplaces in ground floors and basements determined using a quality-assured measurement procedure and then document the measurement results according to uniform specifications.

Improving radon protection

President of the Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Dr Inge Paulini

"The Federal Office for Radiation Protection has long been committed to the protection against radon at workplaces and in homes and conducts research on various aspects such as increased radon occurrences, health risk, and mitigation options", says BfS President Inge Paulini. "The results of the radon measurements at workplaces will greatly expand our data base."

"The new data can help improve our picture of the radon situation in Germany. Over time, developments will become apparent. We will soon be able to see how well the regulations work for workplaces in the radon precautionary areas", says Paulini. "After evaluating the data, we hope to gain insights in order to be able to make suggestions for improved protective measures as well as the further development of regulations for protection against radon."

The BfS accepts data electronically from recognised radon measuring stations

radon measuring device

For employers, this use of radon measurement data does not lead to any additional expenses. The data is transferred by the recognised bodies, service providers who carry out the radon measurements at workplaces in a quality-assured manner. In order to enable these bodies to transmit the radon measurement data to the BfS quickly as well as in a standardised and anonymised form, the BfS has set up an electronic data transmission portal.

Measurement data are transmitted anonymously

The BfS does not know from which workplace a measurement result originates. All measurement data are anonymised before they are transmitted to the BfS. The BfS receives only those data required for subsequent scientific evaluation. In addition to the duration and result of the measurements, this includes the floor on which the measurements were taken as well as geo-coordinates. In principle, it is not possible to draw conclusions about a specific workplace. The data to be transmitted is laid down in the Radiation Protection Ordinance.

Recognised bodies receive access data to the electronic data transmission portal from the BfS.