Exposure to radon gas causes around 250 cases of lung cancer in Ireland every year. However, a new national strategy is aiming to reduce this figure.

Radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas present in all rocks and soils, is classified as a class A carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. When it surfaces in the open air, it is quickly diluted to harmless concentrations. However, when it enters an enclosed space, such as a house, it can sometimes build up to high concentrations, leading to an 'unacceptable health risk'.

After smoking, long-term exposure to radon gas in the home is the greatest single cause of lung cancer in Ireland.

The National Radon Control Strategy, which was launched by the Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan, aims to reduce the number of lung cancer cases caused by radon.

"The aim of this strategy is to minimise the exposure to radon gas for people in Ireland and to reduce, to the greatest extent practicable, the incidence of radon-related lung cancers," he said.

The inter-agency group that worked on the strategy included people from the Department of the Environment, the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII), the HSE, the Department of Health and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.

According to the RPII, ‘an overriding consideration in developing the strategy was to ensure it was cost effective and practical'.

Forty-eight recommendations were made under the general headings of prevention, reduction, awareness and regulation.

Commenting on the strategy, chief executive of the RPII, Dr Ann McGarry, insisted that its full implementation would lead to ‘a reduction of the current 250 lung cancer cases caused by radon each year in Ireland.

The strategy can be viewed here.