Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 May 2004
113 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Health and Children the way Ireland compares to other countries with regard to cancers caused by radon gas; the steps his Department is taking to ensure cancers caused by radon gas are reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15715/04]
View answerRadon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas which is classified as a group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which operates under the aegis of the World Health Organisation. This means that radon has been shown to be a cause of cancer, specifically lung cancer, on the basis of human epidemiological studies. Prolonged exposure to elevated levels of radon gas in an enclosed area can be a contributory factor in increasing the risk of lung cancer, particularly where other factors such as cigarette smoking are involved.
My Department has been advised by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, RPII, that radon exposure can be linked to approximately 10%-13% of lung cancer deaths. This is based on international risk estimates on the radiation dose that would result from long-term exposure to the average indoor radon concentration in Ireland. While statistics on the number of lung cancers attributable to radon exposure are not available, the National Cancer Registry Ireland, NCRI, has indicated that international comparisons of lung cancer — International Agency for Research on Cancer estimates for 1998 — show Ireland close to the EU average for lung cancer cases and a little above average for lung cancer deaths. The NCRI further indicated that over 85% of these cases and deaths are attributable to smoking.
Since 1997 there has been an additional cumulative investment in excess of €550 million in the development of appropriate treatment and care services for people with cancer. This investment has enabled the funding of 92 additional consultant posts in areas of cancer care. An additional 245 clinical nurse specialists have also been appointed in the cancer services area. The Deputy may wish to note that the monitoring of radiation levels in the State is carried out by the RPII. The RPII has identified areas at greatest risk from high indoor radon levels and householders living in these areas are urged to carry out radon measurements of their homes and to take remedial action if high levels are found. The RPII also provides a radon measurement and advisory service.
Radon in the work place is subject to health and safety legislation and employers in high radon areas are required to carry out radon measurements and take remedial action if necessary. My colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, has responsibility for building regulations which incorporate radon preventive measures in new buildings.
