CALLS from all over the country have been made to West Devon Council following its survey highlighting the presence of radon in private water supplies.

Environmental health department officers at the council are now to carry out further tests of supplies at the request of concerned residents.

The survey, the results of which were announced last week, focused on private water supplies serving 116 properties throughout West Devon Borough. It revealed that 18 had radon in water readings above the action level recommended by the National Radiological Protection Board. The board's standard is 1,000 becquerels (radioactivity units) per litre.

Nick Payne, head of environmental services at West Devon, said his department would be carrying out 40 new tests following the extensive publicity of the findings.

He said: 'We have had a significant response. There were 155 general enquiries from the public and some people have come into the office personally.

'There were 50 media enquiries from all over the country and more than 400 hits on our website which is tremendous. By looking at the website, people can brief themselves before they come back to us with more specific enquiries.'

Mr Payne said when people contacted his department they were firstly asked whether their property had been tested for radon in the air.

'Radon in air is the greater risk,' he said. 'By controlling the level of that they can quickly deal with the main threat.'

A test for radon in a private water supply would then be carried out at a cost to the customer of approximately £90. 'Once we have the sample result we will discuss with them whether some sort of remedial action is necessary,' said Mr Payne.

The survey, carried out by the council and the Government's Environment Department, established for the first time that radon remained in drinking water after being drawn from the tap.

It stressed that there was no danger from public water supplies relayed by South West Water.

But there is concern that radon, an inert gas present in earth and water, has been linked to lung cancer research in studies around the world.

South West Devon Health Authority consultant Sarah Harrison, who helped launch the survey results, said they were talking about small risks from lifelong exposure.

For further information residents can call the NHS Direct Line on 0845 4647, visit the council's website at http://www.westdevon.gov.uk">www.westdevon.gov.uk or contact the environmental health department at the borough's offices in Tavistock and Okehampton.