A TENTH of householders in in some of West Oxfordshire could be at risk from cancer-causing gas seeping through the earth, early test results have shown.

The first wave of results from a Health Protection Agency (HPA) survey of West Oxfordshire has shown that action is needed to cut the levels of radioactive radon in one in 10 homes.

Last July, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) urged 9,000 residents around Chipping Norton, Enstone and Charlbury to use free kits to measure the level of radioactive radon in their homes.

The gas occurs naturally as uranium decays and is present across the UK, but high levels are linked with Cotswold stone which allows it to seep more easily.

Radon is estimated to cause fatal lung cancer in 1,100 people in the UK every year. Smokers and ex-smokers face the highest risk.

About 4,500 residents have measured the amount of radon in their homes for three months.

The agency’s head of radon services, Neil McColl, said initial results indicated a tenth of houses had levels of radon higher than the recommended 200 becquerels per meter cubed of air (Bq m-3). In the past, levels up to 2,400 Bq m-3 have been found in the district.

He said: “Over the past few weeks we have sent out hundreds of results to people across West Oxfordshire.

“It is still early days, and we have many more results to analyse, but so far we have found just over ten per cent of the results show radon above the level where we recommend action.

“This is broadly what we would expect and it highlights the importance of testing for radon.”

The high results mean that householder may have to fork out hundreds of pounds for fans and sumps to ventilate their homes.

Mum-of-one Angela Swann, from Chipping Norton, was told the level of radon in her home was more than 50 per cent higher than the recommended levels, at 310 Bq m-3 The 43-year-old said: “I am concerned, because we have been living in the house for seven years, and as a smoker, so I obviously wonder what damages has been done in that time. It is a bit worrying.

“It would have been good to know earlier, and it would be interesting to know how many people in the Chipping Norton area have got lung cancer as a result of radon, and just how at risk we are.”

But HPA expert Jane Bradley said radon levels could vary from house to house. She said: “People who have levels over 200 Bq m-3 obviously should do something to reduce radon levels. That is what our formal advice is.”

The HPA will be running events in West Oxfordshire later in the year offering advice and answering questions about radon exposure. For more information, visit hpa.org.uk Have you been affected by radon or have high levels in your home? Call our newsdesk on 01865 425500.