Outdoor and Indoor Air Ions, Radon, and Ozone

A special issue of Atmosphere (ISSN 2073-4433). This special issue belongs to the section "Aerosols".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 October 2025 | Viewed by 132

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Institute of Physics Belgrade, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: air ion measurement and analysis including formation, evolution, and neutralization; interaction of ions with aerosols and bio-aerosols (bacteria, viruses, and fungi); aerosol measurements (ultrafine to coarse) and analysis of their interaction with ions; radon concentration measurements (short and long term), mapping, and analysis; indoor air quality and expertise in its improvement by non-chemical methods (ionization, ozonation, UV radiation); scientific instrumentation production; sun radiation measurements and analysis (global, diffuse, UV, and UV index)

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Guest Editor
Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: radon and thoron measurements (air, soil gas, water); radon exhalation rate measurements; mapping; gamma spectroscopy; radionuclide metrology; environmental radioactivity; Monte Carlo simulations

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Radon, small air ions, and ozone are all natural constituents of the atmosphere. Within the field of atmospheric and environmental physics, all of them have important roles. In outdoor environments, tropospheric ozone is generated as a consequence of the interaction between solar UV radiation and polluted air. Radon is a radioactive gas that is continually exhalating from the soil; it remains in the near-ground layer of the atmosphere, where its alpha decay acts as the main cause of production of air ion pairs. Small air ions influence the nucleation, condensation, and global electromagnetic field of the Earth. In indoor air, radon accumulates. Exposure to high concentrations of accumulated radon for longer time periods can have detrimental effects to human health, even causing lung cancer. On the other hand, acute exposure to very-high radon concentrations has been denoted as being beneficial to human health, and is even used in radon spas. Ozone can be generated as a byproduct of artificial ion generation. When inhaled for longer time periods, it is harmful to humans. However, very-high concentrations of ozone are excellent when used in the absence of living organisms, as a sterilizing gas which eliminates pathogens from the air.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Air ion generation and neutralization;
  • Interaction of air ions with aerosols and bio-aerosols;
  • Air ions and human health;
  • Air ion pair generation—natural and artificial;
  • Radon exhalation and accumulation;
  • Radon-emitting materials;
  • Indoor radon and thoron (measurements and assessment);
  • Radon mapping;
  • Ozone generation in the troposphere;
  • Ozone as a sterilizing gas in indoor environments;
  • Degradation of materials by ozone.

Dr. Predrag M. Kolarž
Dr. Igor T. Čeliković
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • environmental ionization
  • indoor air ions
  • air ions in the troposphere
  • air purification
  • indoor air quality
  • air ion generators
  • aerosols and bio-aerosols
  • outdoor air quality
  • ions and health
  • outdoor and indoor ozone pollution
  • ozone as a sterilizing gas
  • ozone health effects
  • tropospheric ozone
  • radon in the environment
  • radon mitigation

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

15 pages, 3985 KiB  
Article
Interaction Between Radon, Air Ions, and Ultrafine Particles Under Contrasting Atmospheric Conditions in Belgrade, Serbia
by Fathya Shabek, Predrag Kolarž, Igor Čeliković, Milica Ćurčić and Aco Janičijević
Atmosphere 2025, 16(7), 808; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16070808 - 1 Jul 2025
Abstract
Radon’s radioactive decay is the main natural source of small air ions near the ground. Its exhalation from soil is affected by meteorological factors, while aerosol pollution reduces air ion concentrations through ion-particle attachment. This study aimed to analyze correlations between radon, ions, [...] Read more.
Radon’s radioactive decay is the main natural source of small air ions near the ground. Its exhalation from soil is affected by meteorological factors, while aerosol pollution reduces air ion concentrations through ion-particle attachment. This study aimed to analyze correlations between radon, ions, and air pollution under varying conditions and to assess potential health impacts. Measurements were taken at two sites: in early autumn at a suburban part of Belgrade with relatively clean air, and in late autumn in central Belgrade under polluted conditions, with low temperatures and high humidity. Parameters measured included radon, small air ions, particle size distribution, PM mass concentration, temperature, humidity, and pressure. Results showed lower radon concentrations in late autumn due to high soil moisture and absence of nocturnal inversions. Radon and air ion concentrations exhibited a strong positive correlation for both polarities under suburban conditions, whereas measurements in the urban setting revealed a weak negative correlation, despite radon concentrations in soil gas being approximately equal at both sites. Small ion levels were also reduced, mainly due to suppressed radon exhalation and increased aerosol concentrations, especially ultrafine particles. A strong negative correlation (r < −0.5) was found between small air ion concentrations and particle number concentrations in the 20–300 nm range, while larger particles (300–1000 nm and >1 µm) showed weak or no correlation due to their lower and more stable concentrations. In contrast, early autumn measurements showed a diurnal cycle of radon, characterized by nighttime maxima and daytime minima, unlike the consistently low values observed in late autumn. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Outdoor and Indoor Air Ions, Radon, and Ozone)
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