Councils could face huge bills over deadly gas in homes

LOCAL AUTHORITIES across the State are facing a potential compensation bill of tens of millions of euro for tenants who suffer the adverse health effects of radon gas in council homes.

This is among the main findings of a national forum held by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) yesterday.

Radon gas is the second-biggest cause of lung cancer after smoking, and accounts for 15 per cent of annual lung cancer deaths in Ireland, David Pollard, director of monitoring and measurement at the RPII, told the gathering.

The gas, which occurs naturally in the ground by decaying uranium, has been linked to 200 lung cancer deaths in the Republic each year.

“Local authorities have recognised the potential liability for damage to health of tenants,” Mr Pollard said. This could run into tens of millions of euro payable to lung cancer sufferers or their families, he said.

High levels of radon have been found in parts of counties Donegal, Mayo, Galway, north Clare, Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow as well as Co Louth.

More than 90,000 households in the Republic have already been identified as located in areas where radon levels are dangerously high.

However, 10 years after this survey was completed, only 7,000 homeowners have had their homes individually tested for the lethal carcinogen.

Mr Pollard said 7 per cent of houses, some 91,000 homes, are predicted to be above “reference level”, where action should be taken to disperse the build-up of gas.

He said many local authorities recognised their liability and were addressing the problem.

But the conference also heard that 80 per cent of housing stock was in private hands, and that convincing home owners to have their houses tested was difficult.

The forum was told that at current rates of progress, it could take more than 400 years to test the remaining 84,000 homes.

RPII chief executive Dr Ann McGarry said the lack of enthusiasm for testing was exposing householders to “unnecessary risks”.

“It is clear that the rate of measurement has to increase and that homeowners need to get a measurement made as a first step in reducing their risk,” she said.

Details of how to organise a test can be found on www.rpii.ie