National Plan against Radon

With the commitment to improve public health and safety in the workplace, the Council of Ministers has recently ratified the National Plan against Radon. This plan, proposed by the Ministry of Health, focuses on mitigating the adverse effects of exposure to radon, a radioactive gas harmful to both the general population and workers.

Radon is a radioactive gas produced by the natural decomposition of uranium in soils and rocks. This gas can accumulate in closed spaces such as basements and ground floors of buildings and its prolonged inhalation has been identified as a significant cause of lung cancer, second only to smoking. According to the WHO, radon is responsible for 43% of the total dose of natural radiation to which the population is exposed.

The National Radon Plan is structured into five key areas:

• Basic knowledge and infrastructure to promote research and knowledge about radon and its effects.
• Building to implement construction measures that reduce radon concentration in new and existing buildings.
• Workplaces to ensure safe work environments with low radon levels.
• Priority action areas to identify and act in areas where radon levels are especially high.
• Communication and awareness to improve public awareness of radon risks and how to mitigate them.

It must be remembered that the legal framework for this substance in our country is included in the Royal Decree 1029/2022, which establishes the reference levels for the concentration of radon in closed spaces and the related obligations. In addition, Royal Decree 732/2019 introduced specific standards in the Technical Building Code to limit exposure to radon in risk areas.