One in six Mayo homes fails radon test

One in six Mayo homes fail radon test


Ciara Galvin

YESTERDAY (Monday) saw the launch of an awareness campaign about the dangerously high levels of radon gas in the county. As part of the campaign, two public meetings will be held this Thursday in Ballina to highlight the importance of getting homes tested for the gas.
Radon is a carcinogenic gas linked to up to 250 lung cancer cases per year. Exposure to high levels found in the county is equivalent to 21 chest x-rays per day.
One in six homes tested in Mayo has unacceptably high levels of radon, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The agency has measured 4,400 houses in Mayo, and 17 percent showed ‘unacceptable levels of radon’.
Mayo has one of the highest incidences of radon in homes in the country, according to the EPA. Homes with high levels of radon have been consistently found in Ballina, Claremorris, Ballyhaunis and Crossmolina. A home in Crossmolina showed the highest levels in the county: 31 times the national recommended level.
The EPA is encouraging householders across Mayo to order an easy-to-use, inexpensive radon test for their homes, as a matter of urgency to ensure that they are not being exposed to this cancer-causing gas, which is colourless, odourless and tasteless.
Speaking to The Mayo News ahead of the public meetings, Stephanie Long, Senior Scientist in the EPA’s Office of Radiological Protection said that these areas of the county show the highest levels of radon due to their geology.
“The east of the county has lots of limestone and granite. With uranium present in granite and limestone being porous, the gas can escape through the rock,” explained Ms Long, who said radon is a problem ‘only if ignored’.
“If there is a high radon level in your house, it is being inhaled by the people living there right now, every day. It can cause lung cancer; you and your family may be at risk from high levels in your home,” said Ms Long speaking at the launch of the campaign.
Since 1998 it is compulsory to have a radon barrier installed over a house’s foundation to prevent radon gases, However, membranes can be damaged or sealed incorrectly.
Ms Long said that if moderate levels of radon were found in homes, improving indoor ventilation can reduce the level by up to half. When fresh air is introduced to the home it dilutes the concentrate of radon gas.
However, in cases of higher concentrates of radon, Ms Long advises that a fan assisted sump, which can reduce radon levels by over 90 percent, should be installed.

Public meetings
The EPA will host two public meetings in Ballina on Thursday, November 20, in the Twin Trees Hotel at 2.30pm and at 7.30pm. The EPA is inviting homeowners, GPs and public representatives to attend these information meetings.
As part of this communications campaign, all householders in Mayo will receive an information pack with information on the effects of radon in the home and how to apply for a radon test, as well as advice on how to solve the problem, if one is found. Information literature will also be sent to GP offices, so that health-care centres can advise patients on the harmful affects of radon on people’s health.
Members of the public can order a radon test by calling 1800 300 600 or by visiting www.epa.ie.