Qualitative overview of indoor radon surveys in Europe (original) (raw)
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Journal of the European Radon Association, 2022
Background: As a major cause of lung cancer after smoking, indoor radon is a hazard for human health. Key steps of radon surveys are numerous and include metrology, survey design, development of maps, communication of results to stakeholders, etc. The Council Directive 2013/59/EURATOM introduced new challenges for European Union Member States, such as the identification of radon priority areas, which calls for efforts to improve all the key steps involved in radon surveys. Objective: This study aims to compare existing radon measurement procedures between different European countries and to use the results to optimize the consistency of indoor radon data across Europe. Design: A questionnaire was developed and sent to more than 70 European institutions working in this field to collect information on indoor radon surveys carried out in the respective countries, in order to identify the rationale and methodologies used. Results: A total of 56 questionnaire forms on indoor radon survey...
Evaluation of Representativeness of Samples Used for Indoor Radon Surveys
Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 2020
The estimation of the indoor radon exposure of the population of a country is generally carried out by the means of surveys designed in order to have sample representativeness as a target (population-based survey). However, the estimates of radon concentration distributions could be affected by biases if sampling was not random or in case of differences between sample and target population characteristics. In this work, we performed a preliminary check of the representativeness of the sample used for the second Italian national survey aimed to evaluate radon concentration distribution in each Province. We found that sampled dwellings are mostly located in the main administrative centres, where average radon concentration is generally lower, as compared with the other towns of the Province. The potential source of bias identified in this work suggests to carefully control the occurrence of a sampling imbalance between ‘main’ cities and other cities of Province and to take it into acc...
First Steps towards a National Approach for Radon Survey in Romanian Schools
Atmosphere
Schools are a category of public buildings with a high radon exposure risk, due to their high occupancy factor. In Romania, the elaboration of a methodology for radon measurements in schools is a necessity imposed both by the European legislation and by the relatively high percentage (about 10%) of the mapped territory with a potential increased risk of exposure to the action of ionizing radiation emitted by radon. In order to optimize the design of a national survey aimed to evaluate radon exposure of children in Romanian schools, we conducted a pilot study in two schools in Cluj-Napoca, following the screening measurements carried out in 109 schools and kindergartens from five counties. The specific steps that must be followed were described, taking into account the international protocols and particularities of Romanian territory. The proposed approach could act as a guide for other large buildings and is implicit for the implementation of National Radon Action Plan, approved by ...
Results of the national radon indoors survey in Bulgaria
2017
Purpose: To present the results of the annual average indoor radon concentrations from National survey in Bulgarian regions. Variability of measured data between 28 regions was investigated in order to achieve the preliminary assessment the distribution of indoor radon concentration through Bulgarian territory. Argument: The National survey on average radon concentration in Bulgarian dwellings was carried out from 2015 to 2016, with the co-operation of the Regional Health Inspectorate under the National Radon Program. Data were collected through personal interviews with residents and deployment of alpha track detectors for one year through two phases. The first phase was from March 2015 to December 2015 and second from December 2015 to April 2016 approximately. For each region 100 detectors were distributed and spread to villages in regions depending on the population. The measurements were completed in 2775 dwellings. The distribution of indoor radon levels has been found to be log...
Results of the Representative Italian National Survey on Radon Indoors
Health Physics, 1996
A representative national survey on population exposure to radon in Italian dwellings was carried out from 1989 to 1994, with the co-operation of the National Health Service. The measurements were performed by 19 Regional Laboratories, all using the same techniques and protocols. A stratified, two-stage sampling procedure was used to sample families. The sampled families were approached door-to-door to maximize response. To optimize the quality of the measurements, two dosimeters, each containing two alpha track detectors, were placed together in one room (typically the bedroom) for two consecutive 6-mo periods. The distribution of annual radon concentration was derived from measurements in 4,866 dwellings. The average value is 75 Bq m-' and the fractions of dwellings above the reference levels of 150,200,400, and 600 Bq m-' are 8.7%, 4.7%, 1.09' 0, and 0.2%, respectively. The geometric mean is 57 Bq m-3 while the geometric standard deviation is 2.0. The average values in the Italian Regions fall within the 20-120 Bq m-3 range. When the average radon concentration is examined vs. story, building materials seem to play a significant role. The average lifetime risk of lung cancer for chronic radon exposure of Italian population at home would be about 5 X using the risk factor proposed by the ICRP in 1993.
PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF INDOOR RADON SURVEY IN V4 COUNTRIES
Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 2014
The measurements of radon activity concentration carried out in residential houses of V4 countries (Hungary, Poland and Slovakia) show that radon levels in these countries considerably exceed the world average. Therefore, the new radon data and statistical analysis are required from these four countries. Each partner chose a region in their own country, where radon concentration in residential buildings was expected to be higher. The results of the survey carried out in the period from March 2012 to May 2012 show that radon concentrations are <200 Bq m 23 in ∼87 % of cases. However, dwellings with radon concentration ∼800 Bq m 23 were found in Poland and Slovakia. It was also found that the distribution of radon frequency follows that of houses according to the year of their construction.
Reliable, comparable and 'fit for purpose' results are essential requirements for any decision based on analytical measurements. For the analyst, the availability of tested and validated sampling and analytical procedures is an extremely important tool for carrying out such measurements. For maximum utility, such procedures should be comprehensive, clearly formulated and readily available to both the analyst and the customer for reference. In the specific case of radon surveys, it is very important to design a survey in such a way as to obtain results that can reasonably be considered representative of a population. Since 2004, the Environment Programme of the IAEA has included activities aimed at the development of a set of procedures for the measurement of radionuclides in terrestrial environmental samples. The development of radon measurement procedures for national and regional surveys started with the collection and review of more than 160 relevant scientific papers. On...
National survey on indoor radon in Spain
Environment International, 1991
A national survey on indoor radon levels in Spain has been carried out by measuring the radon concentration in 1555 randomly chosen houses. Measurements were performed during the winter season of 1988 with complementary measurements in the winter of 1989. Radon in air was determined using modified alpha-scintillation cells under specified conditions in the sampling collection and nuclear track detectors in selected houses. The distribution of indoor radon levels has been found to be approximately log-normal with a geometric mean of 41.1 Bq. m "~ and a standard deviation of 3.0. The highest value of the radon concentration found was 15 400 Bq. m 4 In about 4% of the houses, the radon concentration was found to be in excess of the recently recommended value of 400 Bq. m 4, suggested by the Commission of the European Communities (CEC). Elevated indoor levels were found to be more prevalent in the west and northwest than in the rest of the country. Also shown in this paper is an evaluation of the median effective dose equivalent to the individual in Spanish houses for different regions.
Radon in workplaces: first results of an extensive survey and comparison with radon in homes
Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 2011
Extensive radon surveys have been carried out in many countries only in dwellings, whereas surveys in workplaces are rather sparse and generally restricted to specific workplaces/activities, e.g. schools, spas and caves. Moreover, radon-prone areas are generally defined on the basis of radon surveys in dwellings, while radon regulations use this concept to introduce specific requirements in workplaces in such areas. This approach does not take into account that work activities and workplace characteristics can significantly affect radon concentration. Therefore, an extensive survey on radon in different workplaces have been carried out in a large region of Italy (Tuscany), in order to evaluate radon distribution in workplaces over the whole territory and to identify activities and workplace characteristics affecting radon concentration. The results of this extensive survey are compared with the results of the survey carried out in dwellings in the same period. The workplaces monitored were randomly selected among the main work activities in the region, including both public and industrial buildings. The survey monitored over 3500 rooms in more than 1200 buildings for two consecutive periods of ∼6 months. Radon concentration was measured by means of passive nuclear track detectors.