The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is urging homeowners in Wicklow to carried out a radon test on their properties.

EPA results to date show that 33 homes - in areas including Arklow, Aughrim, Avoca, Baltinglass, Blessington and Rathdrum – had radon levels above the acceptable level.

One home in Avoca had 30 times the acceptable level of the cancer causing gas. The radiation dose to the occupants of this home is equivalent to receiving about 20 chest X-rays per day.

Radon is a radioactive gas linked to up to 250 lung cancer cases each year in Ireland and is the second most common cause of lung cancer after smoking. County Wicklow has one of the highest incidences of homes with high radon levels in the country.

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Ms Stephanie Long, Senior Scientist at the EPA said: "The families that have tested their homes have done the right thing to address the radon problem in Wicklow. However, with much of the county categorised as high risk, many householders remain unaware that they may be unnecessarily living with higher levels of this radioactive gas which is linked to lung cancer.

"The good news is that testing for radon is really simple - one radon detector is placed in a bedroom and a second in the living room. The detectors are small and are sent and returned by post. In the event of a high reading, reducing radon levels is also straightforward. Remediation work is usually completed within one day where sumps are installed from outside the home so there is no need to dig up internal floors."

(CD)