Radon Laboratory Services - Frequent Questions

Frequent Questions

1. What is Radon Gas?
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas. It is colourless, odourless and tasteless and can only be detected by its radiation signature. Back to the Top

2. Where does Radon gas come from?
Radon comes from the radioactive decay of Uranium, which is present in all rocks, soils and earth materials. Because it is a gas it can move more freely through rocks and soils enabling it to enter the atmosphere or seep into buildings such as houses or workplaces. Back to the Top

3. How does Radon gas get into buildings?
Radon enters a building mainly through a imperfections in the building substructure i.e. cracks in floors, gaps around pipes and cables. Radon is generally drawn into a building by a slight pressure difference between the house and the ground. The pressure difference is usually caused by temperature differences between the inside of a house and the outside, and by the effects of wind on the house. This phenomenon is called pressure driven flow. Back to the Top

4. What are the effects of exposure to Radon gas?
Long-term exposure to elevated Radon concentrations increases the risk of developing lung cancer. The magnitude of the risk depends on the Radon concentration present and the duration of the exposure. Back to the Top

5. Does exposure to Radon gas account for any other illnesses?
According to current scientific knowledge, there is no other health effect associated with exposure to radon gas. Back to the Top

6. Does exposure to Radon gas represent a large proportion of the annual radiation dose which Irish people receive?
Yes. It is estimated by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) that radon contributes over two thirds of the total radiation dose received by Irish people. Back to the Top

7. In what units is Radon gas measured?
Radon gas is measured in Becquerels per cubic metre of air (Bqm-3). The Bequerel is a unit of radioactivity and corresponds to one radioactive disintegration per second. Back to the Top

8. What level of Radon gas in a domestic environment should give cause for concern?
The Government has set a national Reference Level of 200 Bqm-3 as the long-tem annual average radon concentration in a house above which remedial action for a house should be considered. Back to the Top

9. What is the typical Radon gas level in a house in Ireland?
Radon gas levels vary from house to house depending on where the house is located, its construction and how its used. The average radon concentration in Irish houses is 90 Bqm-3, although levels up to 30,000 Bqm-3 have been recorded. Back to the Top

10. Is Radon gas in a house a problem in Ireland?
The RPII estimates that up to nine percent of national housing stock have elevated indoor radon levels in excess of the national Reference Level of 200 Bqm-3. Back to the Top

11. What is a High Radon Area?
The Radiological Institute of Ireland has classified the whole of the country on a 10Km x 10Km grid squares basis into High Radon Areas or Non-High Radon Areas. The High Radon Areas are areas in which it is predicted that ten percent or more of houses in that area have indoor radon concentrations in excess of the national reference level of 200 Bqm-3. Back to the Top

12. What is a Non-High Radon Area?
A Non-High Radon Area is an area in which it is predicted that less than ten percent of houses in that are have indoor radon concentrations in excess of the national reference level of 200 Bqm-3. It does not mean that there will not be houses with high or elevated indoor radon concentrations in that area. Back to the Top

13. How great is the risk of contracting lung cancer from exposure to Radon gas?
The risk can be significant and depends on how high the radon concentration is, how long one has been exposed to the radon, and also on whether the exposed person is a smoker. The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland estimates that for the population as a whole the lifetime risk of contracting fatal lung cancer from exposure to 200 Bqm-3 of radon gas in a domestic environment is about 1 in 50 or 2%. The risk to smokers is considerably greater than this value. Back to the Top

14. Are children more at risk from exposure to Radon gas than adults?
Children have been reported to be at greater risk than adults for certain types of radiation exposure. However there are currently no conclusive data on children are at greater risk than adults from exposure to radon gas. Back to the Top

15. Is exposure to Radon gas a problem in other countries?
Yes. All countries have small, but not significant, percentages of their national housing stock with elevated indoor radon levels, and Ireland is no exception. Back to the Top

16. Is a neighbours Radon test result a good indication of the level in my house?
No. Radon levels can vary significantly from house to house. The only sure way of knowing the radon level in your house is to have it measured. Back to the Top

17. Does Radon gas affect only certain types of houses?
No. Radon gas is present in varying amounts in all houses in the country. It is not possible to say with confidence that particular types of houses are more prone than others. Back to the Top

18. Do Radon gas levels in a house vary with time?
Yes. Radon gas levels in houses vary from hour to hour, from day to day and from season to season. These variations are mainly due to temperature differences, weather changes and house use throughout the year. Generally speaking, indoor radon levels are higher at night than during the day, and are also higher in wintertime when houses tend to be more airtight. Back to the Top

19. Will high Radon gas levels affect the value of my house?
High Radon levels can be successfully reduced to below the national Reference Level at a cost, which is small compared with the value of a typical house. A potential purchaser of a house may ask for a radon measurement to be carried out, if the house is located in a designated High Radon Area. Back to the Top

20. Do granite walls, fireplaces or tabletops cause high Radon levels?
The main source of Radon gas in houses with elevated indoor radon levels is generally the ground beneath the house. The radiation emitted from granite walls, fireplaces, or tabletops is insignificant. Back to the Top

21. How will I know if my house has a high radon gas level?
The only sure way of knowing your house has an elevated indoor radon level is to measure it. Back to the Top

22. Where can I get my house measured for Radon gas?
Radon Laboratory Services is a commercial radon measurement service provider. We provide confidential radon measurements to domestic & business clients using standard measuring protocols laid down by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland. The fee for standard domestic radon measurements is £40 for two radon detectors. Back to the Top

23. Are the Radon gas detectors used in the house measurements hazardous themselves?
No. The radon gas detectors are quite harmless, and pose no hazards to children, adults or pets. Back to the Top

24. What does a Radon gas measurement in a house involve?
The standard recommended protocol for radon gas measurements in domestic environments is two detectors, one in the main bedroom and one in the main living area of the house, for a minimum period of three months.
The detectors are issued to the householder by post and returned by post to the laboratory for processing after the minimum three-month exposure period. Following processing, results are issued to householders by post. Back to the Top

25. Can unoccupied houses be tested for Radon gas?
Yes. However the measured radon gas concentrations may well be overestimates of that present during periods when the houses are occupied. This arises from the fact that when unoccupied the house may well be totally sealed up, with little or no ventilation. Back to the Top

26. Can I carry out an instant check for Radon gas levels in a house?
Yes. Short-term radon gas measurements ranging from several hours to several days are possible, but are not suitable for determining the long-term average radon gas concentration in a house, which is what is required for comparison with the National Reference Level. Back to the Top

27. Should I have my house tested for Radon gas if I live in a Non-High Radon Area?
Yes you should. Living in a Non-High Radon Area is not a guarantee that you will not have high radon levels in your home. It means that you will have at worst a 1 in 10 chance of having an elevated indoor radon level in your house. Back to the Top

28. If my house is found to have an elevated indoor radon gas level, can anything be done to reduce the Radon level?
Yes it can. It is possible to reduce elevated radon levels in a house to below the National Reference Level of 200 Bqm-3. Technical advice and guidance on radon remediation techniques is available from the Department of the Environment. A booklet called "Radon in Buildings" is available from the Government Publication Sales Office, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2. (Price £5). Back to the Top

29. Will increasing the ventilation in a house reduce the indoor Radon concentration?
Increasing the ventilation in a house may reduce the indoor radon concentration by a small amount, but it is not considered to be a long-term mitigation solution to elevated indoor radon levels. Back to the Top

30. If my house is discovered to have an elevated indoor Radon gas level, is there any Government grant available to assist in the cost of remediation?
Yes there is a grant scheme available. Contact the Radiological Protection Institute if Ireland for further details. Back to the Top

31. I am building a new house; can I have the site tested for radon gas in order to determine if I will have a radon problem later on in the house?
Although techniques are available for measuring soil-gas radon concentrations on site, it is difficult to interpret these results in the context of whether a potential radon problem may exist in the, as of yet, un-built house. This arises from the fact that in addition to the magnitude of the soil-gas radon concentrations found on the site, the construction of the house is also important feature in determining whether a potential problem will exist.
For this reason site measurements are not considered to be a reliable means of predicting whether houses, in advance of construction, will have elevated indoor radon levels. Back to the Top

32. Is anything being done to prevent radon problems in new houses?
Yes. Since July 1998, all new houses in Ireland must incorporate some degree of protection against radon. The particular measures required depend on whether the house is built in a designated High Radon Area or not. Details on the measures are given in the Buildings Regulations (Technical Guidance Document C) published by the Department of the Environment and Local Government. Back to the Top

33. Did the Chernobyl Accident or activities carried out at Sellafield have anything to do with the radon problem?
No. Radon is naturally occurring radioactive active gas, and has nothing to do with either Chernobyl or the nuclear industry. Back to the Top

34. Do mobile phone transmitters emit radon?
No. Back to the Top

Radon Laboratory Services Limited, Annaduff, Dublin Road, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim, Ireland.
Tel:- + 353 (0) 71 9624602, Fax:- + 353 (0) 71 9622873, E-mail info@rls.ie,