Cork office 'has second highest radon level'
The second highest level of radon gas ever found in Ireland has been detected in a newspaper office, test results revealed today.
The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) recorded that one of the offices of The Corkman newspaper in Mallow, Co Cork, had more than 60 times higher than the acceptable limit.
Researchers said the level was the highest ever found in a workplace, with working eight hours a day in the environment being the equivalent to receiving 39 chest X-rays per day or nearly 10,000 chest X-rays in a working year.
Radon is the second biggest cause of lung cancer in Ireland, causing up to 200 deaths per year.
The colourless, odourless and tasteless gas occurs naturally from the decay of radioactive uranium in rocks and soils.
“Given that you cannot smell, see or taste radon, people just don’t realise they may be working and living with radiation levels that are above the legal limit for workers in a nuclear power plant,” said Dr Ann McGarry, chief executive of the RPII.
“We estimate that over 100,000 homes and workplaces throughout Ireland have levels of radon that exceed the acceptable limit.
“It is irresponsible of employers and homeowners not to ensure that radon levels are within the acceptable limits.
“The message is clear: measure radon in your home and workplace and fix the problem if the levels are high. You don’t have to live or work with the risk.”
The RPII study revealed that an average level of 25,500 Bq/m3 was detected in one of the newspaper offices – the maximum legally acceptable limit in a workplace is 400 Bq/m3.
In this case, the office in question was largely unoccupied and, on that basis, the employees would not have received such high radiation doses. However, the employer took immediate action to fix the problem.
The RPII has published a set of maps, available on its website www.rpii.ie, which show that nearly one-third of the country is deemed a High Radon Area.
The institute said testing for radon is cheap, simple and can be done by post.
“In order to comply with requirements of health and safety legislation, radon measurements must be carried out in all ground-floor workplaces in High Radon Areas and levels reduced if they exceed the values laid down in legislation,” continued Dr McGarry.
“I commend The Corkman newspaper for their proactive approach in ensuring their employees are protected from radon. All other employers should follow their example.”
