It is claimed that lung cancer caused by radon gas in Irish homes is killing 1 person every 2 days.
The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) says 1-in-14 homes around the country has high levels of the substance which puts residents at an increased risk of getting cancer.
The naturally occurring gas develops when uranium in the ground decays.
The body says some 250,000 men, women and children are currently living in homes with high levels of the cancer-causing radon gas which is resulting in 200 lung cancer deaths each year.
Dr. Ann McGarry is Chief Executive of the RPII.
"In the vast majority of these homes the occupants are unaware that they are living with such a serious health risk and because they are unaware of the problem, they can't protect themselves" she said.
"Over the past decade up to 2000 people in this country have died from this preventable health problem. The starting point is for people to test their home for radon and where high levels are found, to reduce those levels. Radon is only a problem if it is ignored" she added.
Awareness campaign
Last week the RPII ran a comprehensive information campaign in Wexford to raise awareness of the gas and to encourage people to test their homes.
In the past 2 years the RPII has undertaken 6 of these campaigns in Sligo, Carlow, Waterford, Galway, South Tipperary and Kerry.
The Institute says these are all considered to be high radon counties.
Radon has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer - a part of the World Health Organisation (WHO) - as a Group 1 carcinogen.
This places it in the same group of carcinogens as asbestos and tobacco smoke as a cause of lung cancer.
Ireland has some of the highest radon levels in homes found in Europe.
It is estimated that in Ireland today for the population as a whole a lifetime exposure (i.e. 70 years) to radon in the home at the national Reference Level carries a risk of about 1-in-50 of contracting fatal lung cancer.
This translates to approximately twice the risk of death in a road accident.
Testing for radon
The test involves 2 radon detectors being placed in your home - one in a bedroom and a second in a living room - for a 3-month period.
The detectors are sent and returned by post for analysis with a number of service providers providing the measurement service.
It costs around €50 depending on which service provider is chosen while an interactive map is available on the RPII website for people to see see whether their home or workplace is in a high radon area.
