Radon surveys started in Estonia in 1989. The Department Building Physics at the Estonian BuildingResearch Institute measured radon levels in dwellings, in building materials produced in the country,and in the soil. The indoor radon concentrations in more than 400 houses were measured under grabsamplingtechniques using Lucas cells. The highest measured radon level was 6700 Bqm-3. The resultsof these measurements made during 1989-91 showed that the main source of indoor radon is the soilunderneath buildings.
Radon, radon progeny and unattached radon progeny were measured in two chambers with differentcharacteristics at the Jenolan Caves, New South Wales, Australia, in 1996. Meteorological parametersand condensation nucleus concentrations were measured in order to understand the processesgoverning the radon concentration and degree of disequilibrium with the progeny. One chamber waspoorly ventilated, and rainfall proved to be the most important influence on radon concentration.
CRR, the Regional Center for Radioactivity, is monitoring Veneto, a region in the north-east of Italy, to trace a map of areas with elevated indoor radon levels. This survey is based on analysis of territorial distribution of radon concentration in dwellings. Maps of potential risk are searched in the upper part of the region based on the indication of a previous survey. Percentage of dwellings exceeding reference levels are estimated on the base of log-normal data distribution. Normalizations to ground floor or average housing type are produced.
The radium distribution of the soil is one important parameter governing radon emanation. The present study’s main objective is to investigate radium distribution in different Swedish soils, using chemical selective sequential extraction, and to compare t
The wind speed and wind direction affected concentration of indoor radon in seven houses, which arelocated in three region of southern Finland. In the case of houses (B - F) which are built on upperslope of a permeable esker, according to the analysis of covariance the highest concentration of indoorradon, 20 - 33% over grand mean, was observed when wind (v?0.4 m.s-1) direction was perpendicularthe esker, leading to increasing pressure of soil gas and consequently to increased radon entry andconcentration.
Nowadays augmented risk of a lung and larynx cancers as a result of the exposure on radon is not onlyknown fact, but also the most important effect of the influence of the natural radioactivity on thegeneral public. There is no doubt, that quite often miners are more endangered by enhanced radonexposures as other members of the society.Upper Silesia is the region of the extended underground mining industry, mainly of a hard coal, butalso the metal ore mining.
The effectiveness of various insulating materials for limiting radon entry into houses has beeninvestigated experimentally in 90 existing houses and in laboratory conditions. Each material hasbeen evaluated according to several aspects - placeability, durability, tear resistance and diffusionproperties. The results of the radon diffusion coefficients measurement in more than 80 insulatingmaterials are summarized. We have found out that great differences exist in diffusion properties,because the diffusion coefficient varries within four orders from 10-13 m2/s to 10-10 m2/s.
The Austrian Radon Project (ARP) is aimed to investigate and measure systematically the indoorradon concentration in about 0.5% of all Austrian homes. With the information from this surveyareas of enhanced indoor radon concentration can be identified and people living in such areasshould be encouraged to mitigate their homes. The radon potential is introduced by normalizingthe observed radon data to a standard situation. By mapping the radon potential an overview on thegeological risk for enhanced indoor radon concentrations will be available.
A data set of long-term radon measurements in about 2200 houses in southern Belgium has been collectedin an on-going national Rn survey. The spatial variation of indoor Rn concentrations is modelled byvariograms. A radon distribution map is produced using the lognormal kriging technique. A GIS is usedto digitise, process and integrate a variety of data, including geological maps, Rn concentrationsassociated with house locations and an administrative map etc. It also allows to evaluate the relationshipsbetween various spatial data sets with the goal of producing radon risk maps.
It is estimated that more than 5000 householders in the UK have taken steps to reduce high radonlevels in their homes. In 1993 a number of homes with successful remedies installed were asked toparticipate in a study to determine the long term reliability of those systems. This involved the annualremeasurement of the radon concentration in each dwelling.
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