A house in Kerry had 40 times the acceptable level of radon gas when it was recently measured by the Radiological Protection Institute (RPII), writes Alison Healy
Radon gas is linked to about 200 lung cancer deaths in this State every year, with smokers or former smokers particularly at risk.
Almost one-third of the country is deemed to be a high radon area with houses in the southeast and west worst affected.
The gas comes from the decay of uranium in rocks and soils. It is harmless in the open air, but can accumulate to very high concentrations when it enters an enclosed space, such as a house or other building.
The Kerry case emerged after the householder had taken a radon measurement and sent it to the RPII for testing.
The institute found that the radiation dose was equivalent to receiving 27 chest X-rays a day, or 1,000 a year.
This was the third highest radon gas concentration found to date in a home in Ireland. The householder was able to take immediate action to solve the problem by having a radon sump installed beneath the house to stop high radon levels accumulating again.
Ann McGarry, chief executive of the RPII, said the case showed that some people were living with "very dangerous levels" of radiation in their homes.
"People are receiving radiation doses that would not be tolerated by workers in Sellafield and it is unacceptable that they may be exposed to such dangerous levels," Dr McGarry said.
"Homeowners need to take this matter seriously and measure radon levels in their homes to ensure that they and their families are not at risk," she added.
The RPII estimates that there are about 91,000 homes with high levels of radon gas in this State but it has only identified 3,900 of them.
David Dawson, RPII communications officer, said it was worrying that so many people had no idea that they were receiving such high radiation doses in their own homes.
He said the RPII regularly received samples with very high radon levels.
"We are either very lucky in finding so many houses with very high concentrations, or else the situation is worse than we ever predicted," he said.
This is not the first time that a house in Kerry was found to have very high radon levels. In 2003, a house in Castleisland had a radon level that was 250 times above the reference level.
Since July 1998, all new houses must have some form of radon preventive measure but the regulations do not affect houses built before this date.
Mr Dawson advised all householders, particularly those living in high radon areas, to have their homes tested.
The RPII website, www.rpii.ie/radon, has a set of maps showing high radon levels and gives information on radon and its risks.
Radon testing involves placing radon detectors in a bedroom and living room for three months and sending them away for analysis. The detectors are the size of an air-freshener and can be posted. The RPII testing kit costs €50.