There are currently 16 prisons in the UK with dangerously high levels of the chemical radon, which causes cancer. This raises major health and safety issues for both staff and inmates. The colourless and odourless gas is created as uranium decays in rocks and soil, and if the ventilation system isn’t working properly, it tends to build up in enclosed spaces like jails. Being a known risk factor for lung cancer, it is a significant public health issue in the UK.
What Is Radon and Why Is It Dangerous
In the UK, radon is a naturally occurring gas, especially in places with granite and a particular kind of soil. Low concentrations of the gas are common outside, but it can build up and reach hazardous levels inside enclosed spaces such as workplaces, jail buildings, and basements.
The UK Health Security Agency reports that radon-induced lung cancer is responsible for more than 1,100 deaths in the UK annually. While the disease’s symptoms, such as wheezing, fatigue, and blood in the cough, may not appear right away, the consequences of long-term exposure are well known.
Prisons Affected and Levels Recorded
The 16 prisons with radon levels that are not safe, according to reports, are:
HMP Bedford, Channings Wood, Downview, East Sutton Park, Exeter, Hollesley Bay, Leicester, Lincoln, Lindholme, Parc, Portland, Stafford, The Verne, Usk, Wealstun, and the closed HMP Dartmoor.
In some of these prisons, the levels are much higher than the safety limits. For instance, in one wing of HMP Exeter, the levels were measured at about 2,750 Bq/m³, which is nine times higher than the action level set by the UK for the workplace. The higher levels of HMP Lindholme were also found to be high in tests conducted in 2019 and 2023.
The UK has set a guideline for radon levels in the workplace to be mitigated if it is above 300 Bq/m³, while in sleeping areas like prison cells, the limit is 200 Bq/m³.
Health Impact on Prisoners and Staff
Prisoners and workers who are confined to facilities with high radon levels may be far more vulnerable than people in typical residential or commercial environments. Lung cancer is more likely to develop as a result of this increased risk of exposure, especially for smokers. Health organisations and inmates have already documented radon exposure symptoms, and some have filed claims for compensation.
Former inmates and staff members of establishments like HMP Dartmoor have filed collective lawsuits against the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).
Government and Ministry of Justice Response
The Ministry of Justice says it is “monitoring and managing the risks in affected facilities in accordance with health and safety legislation” and acknowledges the issue of radon. They stress that they “take other steps to protect people in the building, restrict access to the most contaminated areas, and put in place measures to ventilate the building.”
Despite this, there are still worries that testing should have been done sooner to avoid exposure and that, in certain cases, risk monitoring and management were done too late. To enhance radon monitoring and management, the Prison Officers Association is actively working with the prison services.
Long-Term Concerns
This issue is not unique. All inmates were evacuated when HMP Dartmoor in Devon was decommissioned in 2024, when radon levels were discovered to be ten times higher than the permitted limit. The greater problem of radon exposure in older buildings with inadequate ventilation systems was highlighted by this specific instance.
Additionally, according to government records, 18 probation offices and 23 prisons in the UK presently have workplace radon action levels above the recommended limits.
What Comes Next?
The unfolding radon crisis in UK prisons has sparked legal, health, and political debate. Prison authorities face pressure to:
- Accelerate testing in all institutions.
- Implement long-term ventilation and remediation systems.
- Offer transparent reporting to staff, inmates, and families.
- Address potential compensation claims from those exposed.
As investigations continue, the issue has prompted wider discussion about environmental hazards in institutional settings and how long-term exposure risks should be managed to protect vulnerable populations.
Conclusion
The discovery of potentially dangerous radon levels in 16 UK jails serves as a reminder of the grave environmental and health issues at hand. It is obvious that action is required because verified amounts of the chemical have been found to be higher than safety requirements, and lawsuits are being filed.
By tackling this issue head-on, it will be feasible to reduce the possibility of negative health impacts as well as demonstrate that the welfare and health of inmates are a top priority.
