Sir, - I listened to the Rodney Rice lunchtime news programme on RTE Radio One on Saturday, 19th February. Nuala Ahern MEP was a guest and she made a lengthy contribution on Sellafield in the light of the recent incidents there. She would like to see Sellafield closed down immediately. I too am concerned about the operation of this plant and I support the Government call to have it closed down.
Rodney then turned to the report just issued by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) on high radon levels in certain Irish schools. The tone of Nuala Ahern's remarks about radon changed utterly from the tone she adopted about Sellafield. She repeated several times that radon is a natural gas (which is correct) and that it is not a problem in older houses (which is incorrect), but only a problem in newer houses. She said that the effects of radon on the body are different to the effects of radiation from the nuclear industry. I don't know what she means - all radiation can cause cancer and hereditary defects. She then said she is tired of hearing the RPII "huffing and puffing" about radon.
Nuala Ahern thinks that the RPII is not sufficiently vocal against Sellafield. She is entitled to her opinion on that, but she is not entitled to come on the public airwaves as someone knowledgeable about radiation and then minimise the radon problem.
Radon is a real problem and breathing excessive amounts of radon is killing real people by inducing lung cancer. It is estimated that radon may be responsible for 10-20 per cent of lung cancers. Radon can build up to dangerous levels in indoor air. When this happens remedial action can be taken to reduce the levels. This usually requires some specialised but not expensive remediation work, rather than simply opening a window or two as intimated by Nuala Ahern.
The RPII has done a very valuable service by mapping indoor radon levels all over Ireland. About 6 per cent of Irish houses have radon levels that exceed the level at which the Government urges householders to take remedial action. If you live in a high-radon area, you are more likely to have a radon problem in your house. You can measure the radon level in your home for a nominal fee by contacting the RPII.
The threat to Ireland from Sellafield hinges almost entirely on the possibility of a large accident there. But we are continually exposed to radon. It is just as important to protect ourselves from the ongoing danger of radon as it is to guard against the threat from Sellafield. I would expect public representative Nuala Ahern to use the public airwaves to give an accurate and balanced picture of the dangers we face from radiation. - Yours, etc.,
Dr William J. Reville, University College, Cork.