radon gas in his home.

Tests were carried out at Mr. Patrick Mayers' Hamilton Parish property in wake of the radon alert. And they proved positive -- although the amount of gas was small.

"There was nothing to get worried about,'' Mr. Mayers said. He suggested people concerned about radon should also get their homes tested.

Random radon tests were carried out in Bermuda in March and last December.

They were started after the US Naval Air Station announced it would be conducting its own tests.

And Mr. Mayers admitted the discovery of "pockets of the gas'' in some homes came as a shock to environmental health chiefs. "There were a few high readings. We were surprised since such tests had never been done before.'' Mr. Mayers explained radon was a colourless, odourless natural gas which leaked into homes through the ground. It was present in the air, and in most rocks and soil.

"It can accumulate in buildings that are not ventilated, and is very much related to climatic conditions. There are test kits which can be used to find presence of the gas in properties.'' The gas can cause lung cancer if inhaled over a long time.

Mr. Mayers said he produced a confidential radon report for the Health Ministry. He was unable to divulge its contents, but the report is understood to contain recommendations based on US guidelines.

These suggest buildings should be properly ventilated, with cracks and crevices sealed.

Mr. Mayers, who stepped down from his job earlier this year although he officially retires on November 25, said Government research into radon was continuing.

He was pleased Bermudians -- with a heightened environmental conscience -- were now aware of radon. But he did not believe there anything to get alarmed about.

Mr. Mayers said tests were carried out with small charcoal canisters placed at various sites for several days. These were then released and sent to the US for analysis.