The paper presents the results of a national radon survey conducted in the context of the Republic of Moldova. The study included about 2500 homes of different types, located in urban and rural localities in different areas of the country. The RADTRAK2 detectors kindly provided by the RADONOVA laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden, for the MOL9007 project funded by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have been used. The exposure period was 90 days. The measured radon concentrations are the following: the average (±standard deviation) 252.8 ± 215.9 Bq/m3; the range (minimum–maximum) 10–1480 Bq/m3; the median 200 Bq/m3 and the geometric mean (± geometric standard deviation) 158.5 ± 3.0 Bq/m3. The results of the study allowed mapping indoor radon and identifying localities with increased radon concentrations. In order to reduce the high radon concentrations in places recording >300 Bq/m3, appropriate measures have been proposed according to the legislation in force. The cluster analysis showed positive links between the radon concentration in dwellings and the incidence of respiratory diseases, especially the bronchopulmonary cancer in the country.

Development of a standard dosimetric facility with protection against external radiation background for the metrological support of highly sensitive radiation monitoring devices in accordance with the requirements of international standards .

This work presents the results from measurements of radon concentrations in primary and high school education institutions—including their gymnasiums—from the Chisinau municipality and various rayons from the central and southern part of the Republic of Moldova. In the research carried out during the years of 2013–2014 and 2021, there were 78 (29 + 49) premises included, respectively, and 149 and 23,805 investigations were performed using RTM-1642 (active measurements) and RadonEye+2 devices (passive measurements). The results show an essential variability for the studied radio-stressogenic factor, depending on the geological conditions of the location of the premises and the age of the building. Thus, during 2013–2014, the minimum concentration of radon detected was 26 Bq m−3, and the maximum detected was 607 Bq m−3. In 2021, the results denote an indicator variability in the range of 17.4–657.9 Bq m−3 for early education institutions, with an average value of 127.6 Bq m−3, and denote a range of 231.8–1129.3 Bq m−3, with an average value of 665.4 Bq m−3), for high school education institutions and their gymnasiums. The effective annual dose for the children in a classroom varies between an interval of 0.21–4.88 mSv y−1 (average 1.19 mSv y−1) and 0.14–9.08 mSv y−1 (average 1.29 mSv y−1) for the 2013–2014 and 2021 surveys, respectively.

Introduction. Radon is a chemical element of increased interest to the scientific community due to its implications in the etiology of bronchopulmonary cancer. Pollution of indoor air with radon causes serious effects on health, due to alpha radiation emitted following the process of disintegration into isotopes that together with dust particles, dust enters the alveolar level. Material and methods. This study was based on the analysis of bibliographic sources within the PubMed and Google Scholar platforms. The relevant articles for the study were chosen analogously to the research objectives, interest in publications attesting to the problem of residential radon, its implications in the etiology of lung cancer and the synergism between radon and tobacco. Results. Radon is attributed a significant role in indoor air pollution, has a share of about 50% of total exposure to ionizing radiation and is the second leading cause of death from lung cancer internationally. The synergism between radon and tobacco causes an increased effect in triggering the processes of damage at the cellular level, by disturbing translation and transcription. In the Republic of Moldova, the problem is current; the level of residential radioactivity caused by radon exceeds European and national standards in about half of cases. Conclusions. It is imperative to continuously monitor radon concentrations in the country's homes, set benchmarks, update national rules and implement an effective strategy to reduce the negative effects of radon exposure.

Ionizing radiation of terrestrial origin is a topic of global interest and the main objective is the study of the medical-biological effects on health. The academic community is in continuous research on the development of methods for detecting them. One of the most important elements participating in the creation of the natural background of ionizing radiation, with a major impact on health is radon. It cannot be perceived by the human senses as it is an odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas. Radon inhaled into the alveoli of the lungs disrupts the main cellular processes, the translation and transcription of DNA and RNA molecules, thus occurring a series of mutations in the genetic apparatus. Exposure to high levels of radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after tobacco use.Determining the concentration of radon in the air of residential homes, public buildings and workplaces is a priority action for the development and implementation of the action plan in the context of the objectives of EURATOM Directive 59/2013.