People in Carlow are being urged to test their homes for radon.
The county is one of 12 high-radon areas in the country according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Since 2010, the EPA’s Office of Radiological Protection has carried out awareness campaigns in the 12 radon priority counties which inlcude Carlow, Waterford, Wexford, Tipperary and Clare.
4,700 householders have also been tested by the Agency and 700 of those were found to have raised radon levels – with almost 80 having extremely high levels.
Radon is the second most common cause of lung cancer, after smoking, and it’s estimated that 250 lung cancer cases are linked to radon exposure each year.
According to the EPA’s online Radon map, the entire county of Carlow is a high Radon area, with parts of Bagenalstown – extending into the Blackstairs Mountains – having particularly high levels.
Kilkenny in comparison is relatively radon free, except for parts of the city, as well as areas around Conahy and Johnstown.
The EPA says measuring for Radon is a relatively cheap and easy process.
Test kits can be ordered from the EPA or from other radon measurement services.
