Radon is a grandchild of uranium — a radioactive noble gas that forms in the ground and rises into buildings through cracks and gaps. No odour, no colour, no taste. And yet the second most common cause of lung cancer after smoking.
At ETH I used uranium-lead decay chains for age-dating of rocks — including lunar and Mars samples. At Ungiftig we apply the same knowledge differently: we measure how much radon accumulates in your living spaces and tell you whether you need to act.
Why Austria in Particular?
Austria has a radon problem that many people are unaware of. The average radon concentration in indoor spaces is around 110 Bq/m³ (geometric mean, ÖNRAP 2) — nearly three times the global average of 40 Bq/m³. By comparison: Germany stands at 65, Switzerland at 75.
The reason is the geology. Large parts of the country lie on rocks with elevated uranium content — granite, gneiss, certain schists. Over 100 municipalities are designated as radon protection zones, primarily in Upper Austria, Lower Austria, and Tyrol. But even outside these zones we regularly measure values above the reference level.
AGES provides a radon map that gives an initial overview. But a map does not replace a measurement. Whether radon actually enters your building depends not only on the region but on the construction: age of the floor slab, cracks in the foundation, pipe penetrations, basement ventilation. Two neighbouring houses can have completely different values.
→ To the interactive radon map Austria
What Radon Does in the Body
Radon itself is exhaled. What is dangerous are its decay products — polonium, lead, bismuth. These attach to dust particles, enter the lungs, and irradiate the tissue with alpha radiation. WHO classifies radon as a Group 1 carcinogen. An increase of 100 Bq/m³ raises lung cancer risk by approximately 16%. For smokers, the risk compounds.
This is no reason for panic, but a good reason to measure once.
By the way: radon is not the only invisible pollutant in old buildings. Lead in paints and pipes can also neither be seen nor smelled — and is common in buildings from before 1970. More on this: → Lead in Old Buildings
How to Measure Radon
The standard method is a long-term measurement over at least three months using a passive dosimeter — a small plastic container that records alpha radiation on a film. Best carried out during the heating period, when windows and doors are more frequently closed.
Such a dosimeter costs between €30 and €50; you place it in the living area or basement, and after three months you send it to the laboratory. The result comes back as a Bq/m³ value.
We help you with planning (where exactly to measure, how many dosimeters, which time period) and with interpretation. Because the number alone says little — it needs context.
What the Values Mean
In Austria, a reference value of 300 Bq/m³ applies to existing buildings. This is not a legally binding limit, but the value from which the Radiation Protection Ordinance recommends measures.
Our assessment from practice:
- Below 100 Bq/m³: No action required. Normal background.
- 100–300 Bq/m³: Simple measures worthwhile — regular ventilation, sealing obvious entry paths.
- Above 300 Bq/m³: Remediation measures recommended. A radon extraction system under the floor slab reduces concentration by 85–98%.
- Above 1,000 Bq/m³: Act promptly. Such values are rare in Austria, but we have measured them in poorly ventilated basements.
What You Can Do
Radon is one of the most easily resolved pollutant problems in buildings. Measurement is affordable, results are clear, and countermeasures demonstrably work.
The most effective method: a radon extraction system (sub-slab depressurisation). Typically costs €2,000–€5,000 and reduces radon concentration by 85–98%. For new buildings in protection zones, a radon-proof floor slab is a building code requirement — but only when correctly constructed.
Simpler measures that often already help: improve basement ventilation, seal cracks in the floor slab, seal pipe penetrations.
When You Should Get in Touch
You are buying a house? Measure. You live in a radon protection zone? Measure. You spend a lot of time in the basement or ground floor of an old building? Measure.
A radon measurement is part of our pollutant check before a home purchase and is also available as a standalone analysis.
→ More about radon measurement
If you are unsure whether a measurement makes sense in your case: 15-minute initial consultation, free of charge. We will tell you honestly whether it is worthwhile.