Radon is a chemical element (symbol Rn and atomic number 86).
It is a radioactive, colorless, odorless, tasteless gas, occurring naturally as the decay product of radium.It is one of the heaviest substances that remains a gas under normal conditions and is considered to be a health hazard due to its radioactivity.
Its most stable isotope 222Rn , has a half life of 3.8 days. Due to its high radioactivity, it has been less well-studied by chemists, but a few compounds are known.
A total of 77 homes in Donegal were measured for Radon as part of the national radon measurement programme.
In Co Donegal, the location with the highest level was Ballybofey. Nearly 600 homes from across the country were found to have high levels of cancer-causing radon gas so far this year.
This is the highest number identified in any period since the national programme began.
Radon is the second biggest cause of lung cancer after smoking and is linked to 150 to 200 lung cancer deaths each year in Ireland. More homes have been measured this year than ever before, due to a concerted public awareness drive on the dangers of radon.
Eight homes in Sligo have been identified as having radon gas levels above the acceptable level in the past five months, according to figures released today by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII).
One home in Tubercurry had more than seven times the acceptable level of radon with the occupants receiving a radiation dose equivalent to approximately five chest X-rays per day.
Radon is the second biggest cause of lung cancer after smoking and is directly linked to up to 200 lung cancer deaths each year.
Fifteen per cent of Mayo homes recently tested for radon were found to have high levels of the cancer-causing gas according to figures released by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII).
One home in Ballina had more than five times the acceptable level.
Over 300 homes from across the country have been identified by the RPII as having high levels of radon in the last seven months.
Nationally, radon is the second biggest cause of lung cancer after smoking and is directly linked to up to 200 lung cancer deaths each year.