A page on the Environmental Protection Agency's website has crashed as large numbers of people are attempting to check radon levels in their area.
A map released today shows the levels of the cancer causing radioactive gas across Ireland.
In the whole of Ireland, 170,000 homes are located in high-radon areas, according to an updated map released by the Environmental Protection Agency.
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Householders and businesses were told they can check their exposure levels on an interactive tool on the EPA website.
However, the tool went down on Thursday afternoon as a result of increased traffic, with the EPA saying they were working to fix any issues with the site.
The amount of homes affected has increased by 45,000 since the last assessment in 2022.
Radon exposure is linked with 350 new lung cancer cases in Ireland every year.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency's map, 1 in 5 Irish homes are in red areas where it is likely there are high levels of radon. Additionally, 1 in 10 Irish homes are in orange areas and 1 in 20 are in yellow.
This particular radioactive gas is formed through the decay of uranium in rocks and soils that can cause lung cancer. It has no smell, colour or taste and can only be found using special detectors.
The gas can accumulate to unacceptably high concentrations indoors in areas such as homes, workplaces or any building, while it quickly dilutes to low levels outdoors.
The country’s new radon maps were developed under the Government’s National Radon Control Strategy, which aims to reduce the number of radon related lung cancers in Ireland.
EPA Director Michéal Lehane said of the gas: "The new maps combine thousands of radon measurements, with detailed geological information, and are a significant revision of the previous map.
"[They] make it easy for everyone to find out the radon risk in their local area using the eircode search on the EPA website."
People in Ireland are being urged to have their homes tested for gas, especially those in high risk areas.
The EPA has a list of registered radon measurement services and contractors who offer a radon remediation service if high levels are found.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s team is also available to take questions on the issue at radon@epa.ie or by calling 1800 300 600.
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