University of La Laguna shuts 65 facilities over high radon levels

The University of La Laguna (ULL) in Tenerife has been monitoring radon concentrations in its buildings since October 2025, deploying 1,454 detectors and analysing data from 921 of them. While 85 % of the surveyed spaces are within safe limits, 7 % require improved ventilation and another 7 % exceed the legal threshold of 500 Bq/m³, prompting evacuation and renovation.

As a result, 65 rooms and offices across the university’s campuses have been sealed off, most of them on the Anchieta campus in the Faculties of Biology and Pharmacy, as well as some administrative offices and archives. A smaller number of areas (62) show intermediate levels (300‑500 Bq/m³) and will remain in use under stricter ventilation protocols. The university plans twelve urgent works in August to install forced‑ventilation systems and to remediate the most affected buildings. Staff whose workspaces were closed are being reassigned or shifted to teleworking until the remaining detectors are read and the renovations are completed.