Radon Gas Crisis Expands Across UK Prison Estate
An alarming investigation has uncovered that 42 prison and probation sites across the United Kingdom are now under government scrutiny for potentially dangerous levels of cancer-causing radon gas. This represents a significant escalation from previous figures, raising serious concerns about the exposure of hundreds of inmates and prison staff to this invisible health hazard.
Escalating Numbers and Mounting Concerns
The Ministry of Justice has confirmed the expanded investigation following a Freedom of Information request, revealing that the number of sites with concerning radon levels has increased from 33 in 2024 to 42 currently. This disclosure comes after The Independent previously reported that at least 16 prisons had already recorded "above action" levels of the radioactive gas.
Among the affected facilities are HMP Exeter, Lincoln, Lindholme, and Channings Wood. The situation reached a critical point at HMP Dartmoor in Devon, which was closed in 2024 after radon levels were found to be ten times higher than recommended safety limits in certain areas. Despite the closure, taxpayers continue to fund approximately £4 million annually for the empty facility due to contractual obligations.
The Silent Health Threat
Radon gas presents a particularly insidious danger as it is colourless, odourless, and radioactive, forming naturally from decaying uranium in rocks and soil. When trapped in enclosed spaces like prison buildings, it can accumulate to hazardous concentrations. According to the UK Health Security Agency, radon exposure contributes to over 1,100 lung cancer deaths each year in the UK, making it the second leading cause of the disease after smoking.
Legal thresholds mandate mitigation measures when radon levels exceed 300 becquerels per cubic meter (bq/m³) in workplaces, with even stricter limits of 200 bq/m³ for sleeping areas like prison cells. Alarmingly, measurements at HMP Exeter revealed levels exceeding 900 bq/m³ in some sections, with certain areas recording concentrations more than nine times the legal limit as far back as 2020.
Legal Action and Institutional Criticism
Law firm Kesar & Co is spearheading legal proceedings on behalf of former prisoners and prison staff who were potentially exposed to dangerous radon levels at HMP Dartmoor. Solicitor Mladen Kesar revealed that the firm now represents individuals from six prisons total, including HMP Exeter, Channings Wood, Lindholme, Portland, The Verne, and Dartmoor.
"In Exeter, there is evidence that some areas have very high levels of radon, and yet the prison has not been evacuated," Kesar stated. "It's fully operational as if nothing is happening. The same with the others. There is no sense of urgency or responsibility."
Gemma Abbott, legal director at the Howard League for Penal Reform, echoed these concerns, emphasizing that "when the state holds people in custody, it has a legal – and moral – imperative to ensure that they are safe." She criticized the Ministry of Justice for showing "a worrying lack of urgency" comparable to its failure to address fire safety standards in thousands of prison places.
Government Response and Ongoing Monitoring
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson responded to the revelations, stating: "We routinely monitor levels of naturally occurring radon gas across the HMPPS estate and take action to mitigate risks wherever elevated levels are identified."
However, critics argue that monitoring alone is insufficient when dangerous conditions persist. The Howard League reported making repeated requests over seven months for detailed risk assessments of prisons exceeding legal radon limits, but the government has thus far refused to provide these documents.
"Being locked up for up to 23 hours in an unsafe cell must be terrifying," Abbott remarked. "What do ministers have to hide?"
As the investigation expands to 42 sites, questions mount about the adequacy of the government's response to this silent health crisis affecting some of the most vulnerable individuals in state custody.
