Warning on radon for Galway householders

THOUSANDS of Galway households have been advised to carry out radon detection tests on their homes with many parts of the county at high risk from the cancer-causing gas.

Radon is invisible, colourless and odourless but it is rated as a Group 1 carcinogen (causing cancer) – in the same category as tobacco smoke and asbestos.

The gas is now being linked to 300 cancer deaths a year in the Republic of Ireland – a large chunk of Co. Galway, including the city, is regarded as high-risk for exposure to radon.

The radon high-risk area in Galway stretches from East Connemara, along the Mayo border, through North Galway and parts of East Galway, down to Loughrea, before looping back to encompass the city.

Now the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have advised householders in the high-risk areas to get a radon gas test carried out on their house, at a cost of roughly €60.

In the home test for radon, two small detectors will be sent to your home, one to be placed a bedroom and the other in the main living room of the residence. After three months they are returned to the service provider for analysis.

The whole process is done by post with no need for anyone to visit your home – the results will be posted along with any advisory measures to be undertaken.

See full story – and map of radon blackspots – in this week’s Connacht Tribune, in shops today.

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