The study was conducted by Trinity College Dublin.

Nearly 460,000 people in Ireland, or one in ten of the population, could be exposed to indoor radon gas which can cause lung cancer.

Radon is a natural radioactive gas which is present in all soils and is the principal source of radiation exposure. A study carried out by Trinity College Dublin shows that people are at risk from unsafe exposure to the gas.

A new radon risk map was published by scientists in the college and areas which fall under the high risk of exposure include Galway, Wexford and surrounding areas of the midlands and south-east.

Despite these areas being the worst affected, the scientists say it is possible for homes with high radon to be found in any county.

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This unhealthy exposure increases the likelihood of developing lung cancer which has a higher death fatality than deaths caused by road traffic accidents. Around 2,300 people are diagnosed with lung cancer in Ireland every year.

The map divides the Republic of Ireland into three main radon risk areas: low, medium and high. The mid-east area of the country falls under the medium risk area with parts of the south, west and north falling under the low-risk category.

One million people reside in low-risk areas, with nearly 50% of the country living in medium risk areas and 1.37m people live in high-risk areas for radon.