Study of the possibility of using radon potential maps for identification of areas with high indoor radon concentration

Bulko, Martin; Holý, Karol; Brandýsová, Alžbeta; Műllerová, Monika; Masarik, J.

doi:10.1007/s10967-021-07673-4

Cited by 3 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…The first determination of the RP of the Slovak Republic was performed in the pilot study (28) covering the Mochovce region, Slovakia (~530 km 2 ), which is mapped with a high density (~2 measurement points per km 2 for 238 U, 40 K, and 232 Th in the soil and ~0.6 measurement point per km 2 for 222 Rn in the soil air). In this pilot study, five indirect methods of determining the soil RP were tested.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For determining the RP, the approach proposed by Neznal et al (25) was chosen, and the RP values were calculated with a spatial resolution of 0.005° × 0.005°. The RP scale was adjusted in such a way that the original boundary value of RP for medium-high soil radon risk was changed from the value of RP = 35 (25) to RP = 21 (27,28). This rescaling was motivated by earlier experimental measurements of indoor RAC in a municipality from the Mochovce region, where in 54% of cases, the average RAC during the winter season exceeded the RL (28).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This was done by measuring indoor RAC using passive track detectors in a total of 12 municipalities. In addition to the eight municipalities covered in our previous studies (28,27), this study includes 4 additional high-RP municipalities. Mean indoor RAC predictions were made for these 12 municipalities based on their mean RP values, using the formula from our previous study (28).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition to the eight municipalities covered in our previous studies (28,27), this study includes 4 additional high-RP municipalities. Mean indoor RAC predictions were made for these 12 municipalities based on their mean RP values, using the formula from our previous study (28). We then analyzed the relationship between the predicted and measured values of indoor RAC.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Prediction of the radon priority areas in the Slovak Republic and its experimental verification

Brandýsová,

Holý,

Bulko

et al. 2024

radon

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Background: The identification of the areas with increased indoor radon levels, generally referred to as “radon priority areas”, is an internationally recognized issue. Many scientific studies propose methods for locating such areas using measured soil characteristics. Objective: To utilize a modified Neznal radon potential classification for mapping radon potential across the Slovak Republic and experimentally verifying the predictions of radon priority areas. Methods: The study applied a modified version of the Neznal radon potential classification, using measurements of soil air radon concentration and soil gas permeability, to develop a radon potential map for the Slovak Republic. Municipalities with high radon potential were primarily selected for the experimental verification of radon priority area predictions. The verification process involved comparing measured indoor radon activity concentrations against predicted values, which were derived from a previous study correlating averaged indoor radon activity concentrations with averaged Neznal radon potential for selected municipalities. Results: The investigation revealed an approximately linear relationship between the measured indoor radon activity concentrations and their predicted values, with a correlation coefficient R2 = 0.43. Notably, in one municipality predicted to have medium-high radon potential, indoor radon concentrations exceeded the reference level of 300 Bq.m-3 even in buildings constructed after 2008, highlighting the significant influence of soil radon content on indoor levels despite stricter building material standards. The analysis of radon priority areas in relation to bronchial and lung cancer mortality data across various districts in Slovakia did not show statistically significant results. Conclusion: The proposed method of predicting radon risk areas is important for radiation protection of the population against high effective doses of radon and can contribute to the successful implementation of the National Radon Action Plan of the Slovak Republic.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Prediction of the radon priority areas in the Slovak Republic and its experimental verification

Brandýsová,

Holý,

Bulko

et al. 2024

radon

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“…The complexity, due to the large number of parameters and processes responsible for the accumulation of Radon into the environment until it reaches high harmful levels, led to the development and implementation of a large number of different tools for radon risk assessment that include mapping, modeling, etc. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental Studies to Test a Predictive Indoor Radon Model

Mancini

Vilnītis

Todorović

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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The accumulation of the radioactive gas radon in closed environments, such as dwellings, is the result of a quite complex set of processes related to the contribution of different sources. As it undergoes different physical mechanisms, all occurring at the same time, models describing the general dynamic turns out to be difficult to apply because of the dependence on many parameters not easy to measure or calculate. In this context, the authors developed, in a previous work, a simplified approach based on the combination of a physics-mathematical model and on-site experimental measurements. Three experimental studies were performed in order to preliminarily test the goodness of the model to simulate indoor radon concentrations in closed environments. In this paper, an application on a new experimental site was realized in order to evaluate the adaptability of the model to different house typologies and environmental contexts. Radon activity measurements were performed using a portable radon detector and results, showing again good performance of the model. Results are discussed and future efforts are outlined for the refining and implementation of the model into software.

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Radon-Prone Areas in Slovakia Predicted by Rescaled Radon Potential Maps

Brandýsová

Bulko

Holý

et al. 2022

Radiation Protection Dosimetry

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Several scientific studies have shown that high content of radon in the soil environment can be a precursor of increased indoor radon levels. Inhabited areas where elevated indoor radon concentration appears for natural (geogenic) reasons are commonly referred to as radon-prone areas. In this study, radon-prone areas in the Slovak Republic were predicted on the basis of radon potential maps after its specific rescaling. In total, 99 municipalities have been identified in Slovakia where the annual average indoor radon concentration is expected to exceed the reference level of 300 Bq m−3; five of those are even expected to exceed 1000 Bq m−3. In these municipalities it is then required to conduct a survey of indoor radon measurements. Compared with a nationwide survey, the proposed approach of searching for houses with potentially high radon exposure is more efficient.

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Study of the possibility of using radon potential maps for identification of areas with high indoor radon concentration

Cited by 3 publications

References 14 publications

Prediction of the radon priority areas in the Slovak Republic and its experimental verification

Prediction of the radon priority areas in the Slovak Republic and its experimental verification

Experimental Studies to Test a Predictive Indoor Radon Model

Radon-Prone Areas in Slovakia Predicted by Rescaled Radon Potential Maps

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