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In the section on air quality (Fresh Air for Free)
we saw that outdoor air quality in Ireland is generally very good
notwithstanding occasional traffic related pollution in our cities.
Nevertheless there are other potential risks to health that we should
be aware of in the form of chemicals and radiation.
Dioxins
are dangerous chemicals that cause cancer. They are formed as a
by-product in the chemical industry and when plastic is burned at low
temperature. They persist in the environment and have found their way
all over the globe. Dioxins dissolve in fat and thereby can be
concentrated in animal or human milk. While measured levels in the
Irish environment are low there is a risk of local contamination if
waste, containing plastic, is burned. Hence, we should never dispose
of waste by burning and should report anyone who does to the Local
Authority.
PCBs
are chemicals that have been used as insulators in transformers and
other electrical equipment for many years. They are toxic, persistent
and are suspected of causing cancer. While their use is now restricted
many old electrical installations still contains PCBs and in December
2008 pork products in Ireland were withdrawn from the market following
PCB contamination.
Some abandoned mine
sites in Ireland (Avoca, Silvermines, Tynagh) are contaminated by heavy
metals. These sites need to be managed carefully to ensure that the
contamination is contained and does not spread to the wider environment.
Irish
agriculture is predominantly grassland based and pesticides use is
low. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland monitors for chemical contaminants in foodstuffs to protect public health and levels are generally low. (See results at http://www.fsai.ie/monitoring_and_enforcement/monitoring/surveillance/chemical_surveillance.html?terms=report+pesticide)
The threat posed by radiation
is often in the news when talking about the Sellafield reprocessing
plant in the UK or the accident at the nuclear power station in
Chernobyl. In fact these two sources contribute very little to the
overall radiation dose of a person living in Ireland. The biggest
threat by far comes from radon gas. It accounts for 56% of the total
radiation dose received by the Irish population and is estimated to
account for 150 to 200 lung cancer deaths every year.
Radon
is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally as a breakdown product of
uranium in the ground. It can seep through floors and be concentrated
in homes and workplaces. The Radiological Protection Institute of
Ireland provides a service to measure levels in the home or workplace
and has a radon map of Ireland on their website that gives an
indication of where radon levels might be elevated (see www.rpii.ie).
If
your home or workplace was constructed after July 1998 it should
already be protected against radon. If your building is older than
that and measurement shows a high radon level there are relatively
simple remedial measures you can take to reduce the risk. Details of
the steps to take are on the RPII website.
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