Radon is released during showering, washing and cooking and can lead to increased radiation exposure in individual cases.

Elevated radon concentrations can occur in the air in homes, especially if the water supply comes from your own well and the water is piped directly from the source into the house. When showering, washing and cooking, the radon dissolved in the water is released into the air. In unfavorable cases, this leads to an increased radon concentration in the room. However, the contribution to overall radon exposure is usually negligible.

The consumption of drinking water also makes a small contribution to the radiation dose to humans. In most cases, however, this is negligible due to the generally low radon content of drinking water in Austria. To protect health, the Drinking Water Ordinance stipulates that suitable remedial measures must be taken if a radon concentration of 1,000 becquerels per liter is exceeded. According to the Austrian Food Codex, suitable remedial measures primarily include not using the water or mixing the water with uncontaminated water.

In companies such as water supply plants and radon cure facilities, where large quantities of water are used, high radon concentrations can occur in the workplace, making protective measures necessary for the personnel working there. Further information can be found here.