Your Home
South Tipperary Radon Week, May 2011
Are your home and family safe?
South Tipperary has amongst the highest incidence of radon in homes in the country, with up to one in five homes predicted to be above the acceptable level. An intensive campaign was rolled out in the week begining 21st May 2011. This campaign was to raise awareness of the dangers of radon and the need to measure your home.
South Tipperary events
The RPII hosted two public information events:
Date: Wednesday 25th May
Venue: Minella Hotel, Coleville Road, Clonmel
Times: 3:30 pm & 7:30 pm
Read our press release on South Tipperary Radon Week
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What is radon?
Radon is a radioactive gas which is naturally produced in the ground from the uranium present in small quantities in all rocks and soils.
You cannot smell, see or taste radon.
Radon can only be measured with special detectors.
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Why is radon a problem?
Radon is a radioactive gas which produces tiny radioactive particles. When inhaled, these particles are deposited in the airways and on lung tissue, giving a radiation dose that can cause lung cancer
Radon is in the same group of carcinogens as asbestos and tobacco smoke
Your risk of contracting lung cancer from exposure to radon depends on the level of radon you have been exposed to and duration of exposure.
Two groups of people are more at risk and should take action to reduce their exposure:
- Those living in a home with high radon levels.
- Those who smoke or who used to smoke.
Smokers run a much higher risk of developing radon-related lung cancer than those who never smoked because when the two carcinogens radon and tobacco smoke are combined, the risk is magnified.
There is no scientific evidence linking radon with any other types of respiratory illnesses or other cancers.
The Government has set a level of 200 becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m3) as the national Reference Level for radon in homes above which the risk is unacceptable.
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Why is radon a problem in South Tipperary?
In the map of South Tipperary below, High Radon Areas are depicted as the brown and dark brown coloured grid squares.
A 'High Radon Area' is one in which more than 10% of homes are predicted to have radon levels in excess of the Reference Level (or acceptable level) of 200 Bq/m3.
Much of South Tipperary is predicted to have more than 10% of the homes above the Reference Level.
You can seach for your home address on our interactive radon map.
Even if you do not live in a High Radon Area, you still may have high levels in your home. The only way to know is to have your home tested.
We have also compiled results by county from all the measurements we have undertaken that show South Tipperary has amongst the highest incidence of radon in homes in the country. In Clonmel, 20 per cent of homes measured by the RPII are above the acceptable level with approximately 6 per cent at four times the acceptable level.
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How does radon get into my home?
Radon can enter a building from the ground through small cracks in floors and through gaps around pipes or cables
Radon tends to be sucked from the ground into a building because the indoor air pressure is usually slightly lower than outdoors. This pressure difference occurs because warm indoor air is less dense than outdoor air.
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What can I do to protect myself?
Get the levels of radon in your home measured
Most homes tested will be found to be safe, giving homeowners peace of mind. Where unacceptable radon levels are found, the majority will have moderately high levels which can be fixed by improving the ventilation in a house. This work can be done at a low cost or indeed by a DIY enthusiast.
A popular method to reduce any level of radon gas requires the creation of a sump – a small void under the house which is then piped to the outside. The work can be done within a day and from outside the house so there should be no internal disruption. Typical costs for this work are about €1100 (€800 – €2000). The running cost of the fan is about €90 per year. There are a number of companies in Ireland who can do this work. The costs should be lower for houses built since July 1st 1998 as they should already have a standby sump in place.
More information on how to reduce the radon levels in your home including a list of companies that can provide remediation services is available elsewhere on this website.
Contact us if you cannot find answers to your questions on our website.
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How does a radon measurement work?
A radon measurement is usually carried out by placing two small detectors, about the size of an air freshener, in your home for three months.
One detector is placed in a bedroom the other in a living room - the places most occupied by the homeowner and family.
After three months, when the detectors are returned to the laboratory, they are analysed to see how much radon they have been exposed to.
Once the results are known, a report is issued to the person who requested the measurement indicating the average level of radon in their home and advice on what to do next if it is a high result.
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Where can I get a radon measurement?
The RPII provide a simple and inexpensive radon measurement service for your home and for the workplace
You can apply and pay through our our online sevice
Alternatively, you can download, print and fill in an application form for your home or workplace and, depending on your payment method, post or fax it to us.
Other companies also provide a measurement service and we have provided their details for your convenience.
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Response to Radon Week
As of September 2011, over 530 homeowners have undertaken the radon test since the launch of the Radon Awareness Week in May 2011. These are in addition to the 1900 homes previously tested by the RPII in the county. However, this is only a small fraction of the estimated 29,000 homes in South Tipperary which need to be tested.
Read our follow-up press release on the campaign....
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