Radon Gas: Be Aware Of The Risks
Publish Date: Thursday, 20 May 2004
2Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council is calling on households in the district to play an active part in reducing the health risks of radon gas.
The Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) within the Department of the Environment, Northern Ireland published a report in May 1999 showing the levels of radon gas in private dwellings throughout Northern Ireland. The Report shows that the radon levels may be elevated in the Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council area. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that occurs as the result of radioactive decay of uranium found to some extent in all rocks and soils, but amounts can vary from place to place. Prolonged exposure to elevated Radon levels gives an increased risk of lung cancer.
A safe, simple and confidential test to measure levels of Radon in the home is available. Two test detectors are sent to householders by post - one for the living room and another for an occupied bedroom. The detectors are nothing more than a piece of spectacle lens plastic in a protective shell, about the size and shape of a small doorknob and are harmless. They are returned after three months in a reply paid envelope for processing by experts at accredited laboratories. The results are then issued, in confidence to the householder, within a few weeks of the detectors being returned.
Some householders in the area have previously been offered a free Radon test but in view of the obvious health risk, the Environment and Heritage Service will offer free radon tests to householders in the Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council area where radon levels are elevated. Those who are not located within these elevated areas can still avail of a test but there will be a charge for this. Householders should contact the Environment and Heritage Service (Tel no. 9025 4773) or the Environmental Health Department of Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council (Tel no. 8772 0367).
Alan Burke, Director of Environmental Health of Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council, said about the initiative: “The Council recommends that anyone who has not had their home tested should accept this offer of a free Radon test. The test would allow them to make choices about improving their lifestyle and their property at the same time and may put them at their ease.”
Householders who have had Radon tests carried out and whose homes exceed the Action Level will be offered advice on how to reduce these levels. It is best to stop Radon entering a house or, if that is not practical, to try to remove it. The aim in both cases should be to reduce indoor Radon levels to well below the Action Level. The choices are to: - 1. Seal cracks and gaps in solid concrete floors; or 2. Improve ventilation under suspended timber floors; or 3. Use positive ventilation in your house; or 4. Install a Radon sump system; or 5. Change the way your house is ventilated (only suitable in quite special cases).
The Councils Director of Building Control Jim McClelland said “Following the introduction of new Building Regulations in April 2001 the majority of new dwellings or substantially extended dwellings in Northern Ireland have Radon preventative measures already built in and therefore do not require testing”.
Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council Deputy Mayor Councillor Francis Molloy commended the proactive approach being taken by the Council in alerting home owners to the testing service made available by Environment and Heritage Service:
”Testing for Radon is a simple mechanism, with only slightly increased costs and major long term benefits. I would also like to see this scheme for free testing extended to all schools and public buildings.
When Radon was discussed at the Assembly, the Finance and Personnel Committee advocated that Radon testing should be available throughout all of Northern Ireland to ensure that every home was of equal safety standards.”
Many of Dungannon and South Tyrone’s elected members signed up for this free test following a presentation to a recent Council meeting and would appeal to their constituents to also avail of this opportunity.
“The availability of a test result for Radon would not only help to allay peoples fears but would also be a useful selling point if home owners were to consider future sale of their property” said Councillor Molloy.
For further information, Tel. Environmental Health Department of Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council: 8772 0367 E-mail ruth.patterson@dungannon.gov.uk Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council has a range of guidance booklets for householders free of charge, produced by EHS. They are also available at www.ehsni.gov.uk and can be downloaded free of charge.
Ends……….
Further Information Tel. Environmental Health Department of Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council: 87 720367 E-mail: alan.burke@dungannon.gov.uk
Notes for Editors
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that occurs as the result of radioactive decay of uranium found to some extent in all rocks and soils, but amounts can vary from place to place. Prolonged exposure to elevated Radon levels gives an increased risk of lung cancer. At the Action Level of 200 Bq/m3 the risk of premature death from lung cancer is about 3% for the population as a whole - 1% for non-smokers and 10% for smokers. This increases with Radon concentration and it has been estimated that in Northern Ireland, Radon could account for 60 of the 800 or so lung cancer deaths each year.
Radon rises to the surface where it is quickly diluted in the atmosphere and the risk it poses is negligible. However, because of the effects of wind and temperature, the air pressure in your house is usually lower than the air pressure in the soil beneath it. Just as air rushes in to fill a vacuum because the pressure is lower, the same effect happens (much less dramatically) with houses - air from the soil creeps into lower pressure areas of the house through cracks and gaps in the floor or walls and around service openings. This air contains Radon, and in areas where Radon levels are quite high, indoor Radon levels can reach high concentrations.
Radioactivity is measured in Becquerels and the Government has established an Action Level for Radon in homes of 200 Becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m3). The average level of Radon in private dwellings in Northern Ireland is 19 Becquerels per cubic metre of air, similar to the rest of the United Kingdom.
Emma Heatherington
Public Relations Officer
028 8772 0341
