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Welcome to The Radon Barrier Company Limited.

Ireland's Leading Radon Barrier & Tanking Membrane Specialists. 

Kevin Higgins

Technical Director

The Radon Barrier Company Limited,

Bellinagare, Castlerea,

Co. Roscommon.

Tel / Fax : (094) 9870782

Mobile : (086) 2240427

Email : Info@RadonBarrier.ie

 

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Radon Gas Facts !

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas which originates from the decay of uranium in rocks and soils. It is colourless, odourless and tasteless.

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Ireland ranks sixth in the world for the highest average radon gas levels, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced. 

Radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas present in all rocks and soils, is classified as a class A carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. When it surfaces in the open air, it is quickly diluted to harmless concentrations. However when it enters an enclosed space such as a house, it can sometimes build up to high concentrations, leading to an 'unacceptable health risk'.

After smoking, long-term exposure to radon gas in the home is the greatest single cause of lung cancer in Ireland. The gas is linked to 200 cancer deaths every year.

At the National Radon Forum in Dublin last week, the WHO endorsed the new approach used in Cork recently to address the health risk from radon gas. This new strategy requires local authorities, the HSE and the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) to work closely together to measure radon gas levels, assess health risks, advise on how to reduce radon levels and implement required changes.

"The multi-agency approach showcased in Cork in recent months is exactly the type of best practice recommended by the WHO International Radon Project. We are convinced that in any country no one agency is equipped to effectively tackle the problem. This is particularly the case in a country like Ireland which has such high radon levels," said Dr Ferid Shannoun, co-ordinator of the WHO's International Radon Project.

According to a WHO survey of radon levels in homes, Ireland has the sixth highest levels in the world. The highest is Finland and the lowest is Japan. 

Following the discovery by the RPII of high levels of radon gas in the north Cork area, Cork County Council and Mallow Town Council measured their housing stock to ascertain if there were high radon gas levels present. 

Where high levels were found, the HSE and RPII worked closely with Cork County Council to assess the health risk to residents in these homes and advised on how to reduce the radon levels. This co-operation helped to reassure the public and dealt effectively with their concerns. 

The County Council has already rectified those homes with very high radon levels and is implementing a programme to do so in all local authority houses found to have high radon levels.

"The WHO survey shows again that Ireland has exceptionally high radon levels. This makes it all the more important that the model of co-operation and collaboration between state agencies is used by local authorities," said Dr Ann McGarry, RPII chief executive.

Detailed information on radon and its risks, including information on how to get your home or workplace tested for radon is available on the RPII's website, www.rpii.ie, or on freefone 1800 300 600.