New research into the awareness around radioactive radon gas has revealed that just one in five UK residents knows about the potential health risks.

Exposure to high levels of radon gas can be harmful and is thought to be one of the leading causes of lung cancer. Naturally occurring, the gas can appear in homes across the nation. But a new survey by Go.Compare Home Insurance has uncovered how little UK residents know about the substance.

Just one-fifth (19%) of respondents told the insurance comparison site that they are aware of the risks of radon exposure in the home, while 12% were unsure –and more than two-thirds said they were unaware of any risks.

In areas across the UK where radon is found more frequently, a test can be done to confirm if radon has reached dangerous levels. But only 6% of UK adults have ever checked the radon levels in their homes, according to the study. Nine out of ten (90%) residents say they haven’t ever checked, and 4% were unsure if they ever had.

Rebecca Coates, head of radon projects at PropertECO Ltd, said: “As the detrimental health effects of radon exposure are not seen for many years, it is a risk that gets very little attention in the media. Carbon monoxide poisoning, for example, is much more widely recognised as, unfortunately, the dangers are acute and often make headlines.

“The majority of homeowners I speak to only learn about radon when they are buying or selling a property, and many comment that they ‘wish someone had told them sooner’. Not everyone will be concerned enough to take any action, but that will then be their choice to do so, rather than the current situation where a large amount of the population is simply unaware of radon and the fact they may be being exposed to harmful levels.”

Although most were unsure, close to half (45%) of survey respondents also felt that more should be done to highlight the risks of radon in high-level areas, and just 7% disagreed.

Nathan Blackler, home insurance expert at Go.Compare, said: “It’s unfortunately not all that surprising to find that two-thirds of UK adults have never heard of the risks of radon exposure. This shows why it’s important to discuss the issue, and we’re hopeful that in time there will be more awareness among residents.

“While it might not be a problem for many homeowners, more awareness of radon means that those in affected areas can take action if necessary. Currently, just one in 20 residents has checked for radon gas in their home, which we believe just isn’t good enough. Knowing what radon is and which areas are more prone to high levels of the gas means residents can be proactive in their approach to living in radon-affected regions.”

For more information on the research, including the top 10 UK radon hotspots, visit Go.Compare.