Other Environmental Concerns

Radiation sources

Contribution from all radiation sources to the annual average radiation dose to the average person living in Ireland. Source: Ireland's Environment 2008.

Courtesy EPA

Radiation sources
Courtesy EPA

Radiation sources

Contribution from all radiation sources to the annual average radiation dose to the average person living in Ireland. Source: Ireland's Environment 2008.

Courtesy EPA

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As well as the usual concerns about air and water pollution, many people are also concerned about topics such as noise or radiation that fall under the general heading of environment.

Radiation

Living on this planet exposes us to constant radiation doses from the earth and from the sun.  We can do little to protect ourselves from this radiation apart from insulating our homes against radioactive radon gas.  

In the course of a lifetime most of us are also exposed to radiation from X-ray equipment in hospitals.  The third general source of radiation, nuclear missile testing and nuclear power station accidents and emissions, tend to get most publicity and to be of most concern.

When we look at the figures published by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, however, we see that natural radiation accounts for 85.9 % of the radiation dose we receive, 13.7% comes from medical devices and only 0.4% comes from artificial sources.

Radiation Dose Calculator

Some 56.3% of the dose we receive comes from radon gas and so it is advisable to check the radon levels in our homes and work places, particularly if they were constructed prior to July 1998 when new radon prevention regulations were introduced.

Noise and Vibration

Noise at any time can be a nuisance and during the nighttime can keep people awake and damage their health.  Most complaints are due to noisy neighbours, particularly from those living in apartment blocks, but occasionally construction and industrial noise can also cause problems. While it is sometimes difficult to agree on what constitutes a nuisance, noise levels can be measured using a noise meter and regulations are in place to allow those affected to seek legal redress.  In 2008 the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government launched a consultation document on noise issues.

www.environ.ie

Vibration problems mainly arise close to quarries, mines and tunnels where explosive devices are used to blast through the rock.  Humans are very sensitive to vibrations and can detect very low levels.  If not controlled properly excessive vibrations can damage property and so all significant sources of vibration in Ireland are restricted in the frequency and extent of any blasting operations through their planning permissions or through the licensing system operated by the EPA.

Genetically Modified Organisms

A genetically modified organism (GMO) is defined as an organism in which the genetic material has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating or natural recombination or by a combination of both.  GMOs fall into two broad categories; those that are held inside containers (contained use) and those that are released into the environment (controlled release). Both categories are controlled by legislation and the EPA is the body with responsibility for implementing it.

There are hundreds of contained GMO uses in Ireland , mostly in university research laboratories but also in biopharmaceutical factories.  Overall there is little public concern about these operations but that is not the case with controlled release.  At EU level there is an effective moratorium at present on new GMO releases to the environment and this has caused tension at World Trade Organisation negotiations between the USA and the EU.

The very first commercial planting of GMO crops was in 1996 in the USA and, by 2008, some 125 million hectares of GMO crops were planted in 25 different countries.  These crops are primarily soy, maize, cotton and rapeseed and are engineered to tolerate a particular herbicide or to resist attack from a crop pest.

Presently there are no GMO crops grown in Ireland .