Radon is still the main source of radiation exposure for the Irish public, say EPA and HIQA.
The ‘Ionising Radiation – National Dose Report’ assessed the radiation exposure received from the air we breathe, medical exposures, our diet and exposure to radiation in our environment.
Over 99% of radiation dose received comes from natural sources of radiation, and medical exposures such as X-rays and CT scans.
Nearly 60% of the dose is due to the radioactive gas Radon.
10 % of the dose comes from medical exposures, mainly from medical imaging.
7% comes from our food and drinking water.
This assessment found that the average dose remains similar to that found a decade ago.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) today published a new assessment of the average radiation doses received by the Irish population. The Ionising Radiation – National Does Report assessed the radiation exposure over the last five years received from the air we breathe, medical exposures, our diet, and exposures to radiation in our environment.
This is an update of a 2014 assessment, and the current assessment found that the average dose remains similar to that found a decade ago. The assessment found that over 99% of the average radiation dose comes from natural sources of radiation, and medical exposures such as X-rays and CT scans. Medical exposure alone can account for just over 10% of a person’s total exposure or dose.
The assessment found:
Nearly 60% of the dose is due to the radioactive gas Radon in indoor air, with over 8% coming from exposure to another radioactive gas, Thoron.
10% of the dose comes from medical exposures, mainly from medical imaging.
9% comes from cosmic radiation, of which 2% is due to exposure received if flying.
7% comes from our food and drinking water.
6% comes from radiation from the ground as gamma radiation.
People in Ireland receive a slightly higher average radiation dose than the European average, mainly due to radon exposure in the home and in the workplace. Radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas, contributes almost 60% of the annual dose. This is of concern as radon is a major cause of lung cancer.
Over 7% of the average annual radiation dose comes from radiation in food and drinking water, the source of which is mainly naturally occurring radiation.
Radioactivity from artificial sources, such as discharges from nuclear facilities abroad, fallout from historic nuclear weapons testing and past nuclear accidents make up less than 1% of overall exposure.
Dr Micheal Lehane, EPA Director said, “Radon is the largest contributor to radiation dose in Ireland. If there is a high radon level in your home, it is exposing you and your family to unnecessary radiation. The good news is that radon is easy to test for and solutions are available to reduce high levels where necessary. When building a house it is critical to seal the base of the building to prevent radon from getting into your house in the first place. For existing houses, we urge people to test for radon, and remediate if necessary, as this is the only way of protecting you and your family from this cancer-causing gas.”
As part of the assessment, HIQA reviewed radiation exposure to patients, finding that the average amount of radiation from medical exposure has decreased. This is in part due to improvements in the overall reduction of exposure to patients and increased access to new and improved medical imaging.
Mr Sean Egan, HIQA’s Director of Healthcare Regulation, said, “It is encouraging to see the decrease in amounts of ionising radiation received from medical exposures over the past 10 years. Since HIQA began regulating ionising radiation facilities in 2019, we have seen increased compliance with the regulations year-on-year. This means that services are considering how best to use equipment to meet the intended diagnostic or treatment goal while keeping exposure of the patient as low as possible, reducing the risk of harm to patients. We will continue to engage with services to ensure that this good practice continues.”
Lyrics: Dutch composer and lyricist Werner Theunissen of the 70s Dutch country music band ‘Pussycat’. Vocals:‘Pussycat’ singers Toni Willé, Marianne Veldpaus and Betty Dragstra.
Mississippi.
Where you can hear a country song from far, And someone play the honky-tonk guitar. Where all the lights will go out one by one, The people join the song and the wind takes it away. Where the Mississippi rolls down to the sea, And lovers found the place they’d like to be. How many times before the song was ending? Love and understanding everywhere around. Mississippi, I’ll remember you. Whenever I should go away, I’ll be longing for the day, That I will be in Greenville again. Mississippi, You’ll be on my mind. Every time I hear this song, Mississippi roll along, Until the end of time. Now the country song forever lost its soul, When the guitar player turned to rock ‘n’ roll, And every time when summer nights are fallin’, I will always be callin’, dreams of yesterday. Mississippi, I’ll remember you. Whenever I should go away, I’ll be longing for the day, That I will be in Greenville again. Mississippi, You’ll be on my mind. Every time I hear this song, Mississippi roll along, Until the end of time. Every time I hear this song, Mississippi roll along, Until the end of time. END
Vocals: American contemporary Christian music singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and author, David Crowder. Lyrics: Canadian contemporary Christian music (CCM) artist, songwriter Matt Maher; worship leader American songwriter and producer Ben Glover and vocalist David Crowder,
Come As You Are.
Come out of sadness from wherever you’ve been, Come broken hearted, let rescue begin. Come find your mercy, oh, sinner come kneel, Earth has no sorrow that heaven can’t heal. So lay down your burdens, lay down your shame. All who are broken, lift up your face. Oh, wanderer come home, you’re not too far. Lay down your hurt, lay down your heart, Come as you are. There’s hope for the hopeless and all those who’ve strayed, Come sit at the table, come taste the grace. There’s rest for the weary, rest that endures, Earth has no sorrow, that heaven can’t cure. So lay down your burdens, lay down your shame. All who are broken, lift up your face. Oh, wanderer come home, you’re not too far. Lay down your hurt, lay down your heart, come as you are, Come as you are, fall in his arms, Come as you are. There’s joy for the mourning, oh, sinner be still, Earth has no sorrow that heaven can’t heal, Earth has no sorrow that heaven can’t heal. So lay down your burdens, lay down your shame, All who are broken, lift up your face. Oh, wanderer come home, you’re not too far. Lay down your hurt, lay down your heart, come as you are, Come as you are.
Long ago, when we spoke of education we talked about the 3 Rs: reading, writing and arithmetic. Nowadays we strive for something better- the 3 As: arts, academics and athletics. Here in Thurles we are extremely fortunate to have outstanding schools that all champion the 3 As.
The summer holidays are here for almost everyone. Our students are graduating to new classes, schools and contexts and the song hereunder entitled “Time of Our Lives” sung by Tyrone Wells, captures the feelings of joy and sadness our graduating students often feel, as they look forward to their future; but must say fair well to the security of their past and the wonderful 3As education they received.
We wish the graduating students of the Class of 2024 every success for their future endeavours.
Time Of Our Lives.
Vocals: American singer-songwriter Tyrone Wells. Lyrics: American musician, singer-songwriter and record producer Tim Myers.
Time Of Our Lives.
This is where the chapter ends. A new one now begins, Time has come for letting go, The hardest part is when you know, All of these years, when we were here, are ending, But I’ll always remember.
[Chorus] We have had the time of our lives, And now the page is turned, The stories we will write. We have had the time of our lives, And I will not forget the faces left behind. It’s hard to walk away from the best of days, But if it has to end, I’m glad you have been my friend, In the time of our lives.
Where the water meets the land, There is shifting in the sand. Like the tide that ebbs and flows, Memories will come and go. All of these years, when we were here, are ending, But I’ll always remember.
[Repeat Chorus]
We say goodbye, we hold on tight, To these memories that never die. We say goodbye, we hold on tight, To these memories that never die.
[Repeat Chorus]
I’m glad you have been my friend, In the time of our lives.
Vocals: Lionel Brockman Richie Jr, who celebrated his 75th birthday yesterday, (born June 20th, 1949) Lyrics: American singer, songwriter, record producer and television personality, Lionel Richie.
Stuck on you.
Stuck on you, I’ve got this feeling down deep in my soul that I just can’t lose. Guess I’m on my way. Needed a friend, And the way I feel now I guess I’ll be with you ’til the end. Guess I’m on my way, Mighty glad you stayed. Stuck on you, Been a fool too long I guess it’s time for me to come on home. Guess I’m on my way. So hard to see, That a woman like you could wait around for a man like me. Guess I’m on my way, Mighty glad you stayed. Oh, I’m leaving on that midnight train tomorrow, And I know just where I’m going. I’ve packed up my troubles and I’ve thrown them all away, ‘Cause this time little darling I’m coming home to stay. I’m stuck on you. I’ve got this feeling down deep in my soul that I just can’t lose. Guess I’m on my way. Needed a friend, And the way I feel now I guess I’ll be with you ’til the end. Guess I’m on my way. I’m mighty glad you stayed.
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