Risk of exposure to radioactive gas dangerously high in parts of midlands

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently published a new map which shows an increased risk from radon, a cancer-causing radioactive gas in the midlands.

South Roscommon is most at risk as one in five homes in this area are likely to have high radon levels which affects Knockcroghery, Curraghboy, Athleague and parts of Monksland.

In Bealnamulla one in five houses are likely to have high radon levels.

Ballinahown and Doon are also severely affected with very high levels of the radioactive gas found there.

One in five homes in Ballinasloe, Lecarrow and Dysart are highly susceptible to radon.

In Athlone and Moate about one in ten homes are likely to have high radon levels.

170,000 homes in the country are now predicted to be at risk from radon. This is an increase of 45,000 homes from the previous estimate in 2002.

Radon is a cancer-causing radioactive gas, and every year in Ireland, 350 new lung cancer cases are linked to exposure to radon.

Homes in some parts of the country are more likely to have a radon problem than others. These are called High Radon Areas.

Michéal Lehane, EPA Director, speaking at the recent National Radon Forum said:

“Radon is a serious public health hazard. The new maps combine thousands of radon measurements, with detailed geological information, and are a significant revision of the previous map from 2002. More importantly, the new maps make it easy for everyone to find out the radon risk in their local area using the eircode search on the EPA website. We urge people to test for radon as this is the only way of protecting you and your family from this cancer-causing gas.”

Yvonne Mullooly, Assistant Chief Executive of the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), welcomed publication of the new radon maps saying:

“Employers in high radon areas are obliged to test their workplaces for radon. The new maps enable them to clearly identify where they are legally obliged to test, so allows for targeting of resources in the areas where the risk from radon is highest. The HSA will continue to support employers by providing information, and through our on-line risk assessment BeSMART tool www.BeSMART.ie.”

You can check if your home is at risk/the level of risk of your home through the new Eircode map search on the EPA website. The EPA urges all householders and businesses, especially those in high radon areas, to test for radon.

Testing for radon is simple and fixing a radon problem will reduce the risk to your health from this radioactive gas.

The maps are now available on the EPA’s website and are searchable by Eircode and by address.

The map is based on work completed by Trinity College Dublin, Geological Survey of Ireland and the Economic and Social Research Institute alongside the EPA.