Elevated levels of radon gas in 500 homes

In Strabane the figure is even higher. A new report suggests that up to 680 dwellings could exceed levels recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Radon in Dwellings in Northern Ireland, published in November, revealed the figures.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas which forms from the radioactive decay of uranium, which is found in small quantities in all soils and rocks but amounts vary from place to place.

According to the Department of Environmental Health at Derry City Council and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) it is estimated that 3 per cent of UK lung cancer deaths are attributable to radon and this translates to around 30 deaths out of the 850 annual lung-cancer deaths in Northern Ireland.

A report by the local authority's Chief Environmental Health Officer last week noted that the NIEA report indicated that between 250 and 460 houses in Londonderry were estimated to be above the Radon Action Level (200Bqm-3). In Strabane the range was 500-600.

"The report confirms that radon levels are raised in parts of four of the five district councils in Western Group. The following table provides the predictive data for the five councils," the Council report stated.

"Since 2001 the Building Regulations have required measures to prevent or limit the ingress of radon into any dwelling built in designated Radon Affected Areas - ie areas with a 1 per cent probability or more of homes being above the Action Level," it added.

"In May 2008 the Health Protection Agency (HPA) recommended that UK Building Regulations and Standards should be changed to ensure that all new property incorporates the measures necessary to reduce internal radon levels.

"The HPA is also currently reviewing its advice on the limitation on human exposure to radon and published a recent consultation document on this issue," it stated.

Many initiatives to raise awareness of this issue and encourage householders in Radon Affected Areas to have measurements taken in their properties to identify whether any remedial action is necessary seem to have fallen on deaf ears.

"Uptake of the tests has however been poor (approx 20 per cent)," the report added. "Environmental Health will continue to work with colleagues within NIEA to encourage owner-occupiers and landlords in such areas to have measurements taken and where appropriate reduce the radon to an acceptable level."