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Atmospheric Radon Measurements, Control, Mitigation and Management (2nd Edition)

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 September 2023) | Viewed by 20549

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Dr. Cucoş (Dinu) Alexandra

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“Constantin Cosma” Radon Laboratory, Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Babeş-Bolyai University, Fantanele Street No. 30, 400294 Cluj-Napoca, România
Interests: radon; indoor air quality; monitoring, control; mitigation; innovative technologies
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Dear Colleagues,

Evidence shows that air pollution worldwide is responsible for a significant burden of deaths, hospital admissions and symptom exacerbation. Among the natural environmental pollutants that can accumulate in the atmosphere, indoor or outdoor, radon gas is considered the main source of ionizing radiation exposure for the general population.

Radon (222Rn) is a radioactive gas product of the decay of radium (226Ra), which belongs to the decay series of the uranium (238U) and is present in various types of soils and rocks in the Earth’s crust. Radon originating from the ground can permeate through the soil and penetrate the indoor space of buildings, where it can accumulate at a level that results in a health risk, being recognized as the second leading cause of lung cancer by the World Health Organization (WHO). Relevant scientific research in recent decades, several case studies conducted on large population cohorts, and internationally adopted legislation have well established that the continued inhalation of radon air in homes and workplaces poses a scientifically proven health hazard, which depends mainly on the levels to which it is exposed and the duration of the exposure period. The variation of radon levels in buildings depends on several factors; among the most important are the geological features of the investigated area, the environmental parameters, the building characteristics and occupational patterns. Fortunately, public exposure to radon, after an appropriate assessment, can be controlled and/or prevented by preventive measures, mitigation methods and management solutions, including the handling and treatment, mitigation, and minimization of radon levels inside the buildings.

Therefore, the scope of this Special Issue on Atmospheric Radon Measurements, Control, Mitigation and Management covers a wide range of topics dealing with indoor and outdoor atmospheric radon, including metrology, measurement techniques for control, mitigation, management, risk assessment, modelling, and the synergism between radon and indoor air pollution with the energy efficiency of buildings, public health, smoking habits, climate change, sustainability and the Green Buildings challenge, earthquake detection and prediction, and other challenges associated with the topic.

This Special Issue of the open-access journal Atmosphere addresses the issue of “Atmospheric Radon Measurements, Control, Mitigation and Management”, inspired by the global need for radon remediation actions based on reliable research experience. This Special Issue is a follow-up of the first Special Issue entitled “Atmospheric Radon Measurements, Control, Mitigation and Management” (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/atmosphere/special_issues/atmospheric_radon) published in Atmosphere in 2021.

This volume aims to contribute to a better understanding of the challenges related to radon issues, to the improvement of radon-related legislation and public policies, and to help to better understand the regulatory tools and procedures leading to the reduction of occupational and public exposures to radon in the atmosphere of buildings. Moreover, the requirements of the latest EURATOM Directive 59/2013 adopted by the European Council introduce for all the European member states the necessity to design instruments and regulation methods focused on compliance with the reference level adopted by radon regulation in each country. Therefore, this Issue falls into the category of volumes dedicated to radon, whose contribution is currently paramount, providing useful tools and references for radon management, risk communication, public education and mitigation actions.

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

Radon problems in the broad context of indoor air quality;
Radon metrology, detectors and infrastructure networks for radon measurement and monitoring;
Radon awareness, public policy and perspectives;
Radon in environmental factors as a contribution to the atmospheric radon and health risk assessment for exposed populations;
Radon mitigation, remediation methods applied in existing buildings, and preventive solutions designed for new buildings;
Indoor radon pollution management linked to energy efficiency and building sustainability.

Accordingly, we warmly invite all specialists, academics, researchers, scientists and other interested parties to publish their experimental or theoretical scientific achievements in the broader spectrum of the radon field, with applications in public policy, practical recommendations, geophysics, environment, life sciences and building sustainability, in the form of original research articles or reviews.

Dr. Cucoş (Dinu) Alexandra
Guest Editor

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Keywords

radon
indoor air quality
monitoring
measurement
radon mitigation
management
control
building sustainability

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 2021 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preliminary Survey of Exposure to Indoor Radon in al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Kazakhstan

by Yuliya Zaripova, Vyacheslav Dyachkov, Mirgul Bigeldiyeva, Tatyana Gladkikh and Alexandr Yushkov

Atmosphere 2023, 14(10), 1584; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14101584 - 19 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1698

Abstract

Radon is a major source of naturally occurring radioactivity, and its measurement is considered extremely important in radiation protection, given its association with lung cancer. This pilot study aimed to estimate the annual effective dose received by students and staff based on monitoring data on the concentration of radon in the buildings of al-Farabi Kazakh National University (Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan), based on the distance to the tectonic fault. The measurements were recorded daily from February 2021 to September 2022 using a RAMON-02 radiometer (SOLO LLP, Almaty, Kazakhstan). All measurements were taken from the basement to the top floor under normal conditions of use. The average accumulated concentrations of radon in the studied buildings ranged from 16.34 to 78.33 Bq/m³, which is below the maximum level of 100 Bq/m³ established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan (200 Bq/m³). Relatively high values were recorded in the basement of the Faculty of Physics and Technology building (282.0 Bq/m³ in winter, 1742.0 Bq/m³ in spring, 547.7 Bq/m³ in summer, and 550.7 Bq/m³ in autumn), which is located closest to the tectonic fault and poorly ventilated. In almost all rooms (94%), radon levels were within the WHO-recommended reference level. The averaged results show the influence of the distance to the fault on the average indoor radon levels. The annual effective dose of radon for university students and staff ranged from 1.09 mSv/year to 1.53 mSv/year. The excess lifetime risk of developing cancer ranged from 0.44% to 0.61%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Atmospheric Radon Measurements, Control, Mitigation and Management (2nd Edition))

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10 pages, 3108 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Control of Radon Flux of an Inactive Uranium Mill Facility in Spain

by Ismael Fuente, Carlos Sainz, Luis Quindós, Daniel Rábago, Isidoro Gutiérrez, Alicia Fernández, Raúl Rodríguez and Santiago Celaya

Atmosphere 2023, 14(10), 1536; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14101536 - 8 Oct 2023

Viewed by 1205

Abstract

As part of a contract with ENRESA (National Radioactive Waste Company S.A. is a Spanish public company responsible for the management of radioactive waste), after the closure of the uranium mill factory in Andújar, Spain, continuous measurements of the radon flux have been carried out on an annual basis using activated carbon detectors following a methodology established in our laboratory (ISO 11665-7, 2012). The results obtained and their usefulness are presented from the point of view of control of the closure conditions established by the competent authority in order to minimize the impact of the site on the environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Atmospheric Radon Measurements, Control, Mitigation and Management (2nd Edition))

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16 pages, 4040 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Inter-Comparison of Radon Measurements from a Commercial Beta-Attenuation Monitor and ANSTO Dual Flow Loop Monitor

by Matthew L. Riley, Scott D. Chambers and Alastair G. Williams

Atmosphere 2023, 14(9), 1333; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14091333 - 24 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1354

Abstract

Radon (Rn) is a radioactive, colourless, odourless, noble gas that decays rapidly. It’s most stable isotope, ²²²Rn, has a half-life of around 3.8 days. Atmospheric radon measurements play an important role in understanding our atmospheric environments. Naturally occurring radon can be used as an atmospheric tracer for airmass tracking, to assist in modelling boundary layer development, and is important for understanding background radiation levels and personal exposure to natural radiation. The daughter products from radon decay also play an important role when measuring fine particle pollution using beta-attenuation monitors (BAM). Beta radiation from the ²²²Rn decay chain interferes with BAM measurements of fine particles; thus, some BAMs incorporate radon measurements into their sampling systems. BAMs are ubiquitous in air quality monitoring networks globally and present a hitherto unexplored source of dense, continuous radon measurements. In this paper, we compare in situ real world ²²²Rn measurements from a high quality ANSTO dual flow loop, dual filter radon detector, and the radon measurements made by a commercial BAM instrument (Thermo 5014i). We find strong correlations between systems for hourly measurements (R² = 0.91), daily means (R² = 0.95), hour of day (R² = 0.72–0.94), and by month (R² = 0.83–0.94). The BAM underestimates radon by 22–39%; however, the linear response of the BAM measurements implies that they could be corrected to reflect the ANSTO standard measurements. Regardless, the radon measurements from BAMs could be used with correction to estimate local mixed layer development. Though only a 12-month study at a single location, our results suggest that radon measurements from BAMs can complement more robust measurements from standard monitors, augment radon measurements across broad regions of the world, and provide useful information for studies using radon as a tracer, particularly for boundary layer development and airmass identification. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Atmospheric Radon Measurements, Control, Mitigation and Management (2nd Edition))

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16 pages, 3717 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Indoor Radon Survey in Aksu School and Kindergarten Located near Radioactive Waste Storage Facilities and Gold Mines in Northern Kazakhstan (Akmola Region)

by Yerlan Kashkinbayev, Polat Kazymbet, Meirat Bakhtin, Aisulu Khazipova, Masaharu Hoshi, Aya Sakaguchi and Danara Ibrayeva

Atmosphere 2023, 14(7), 1133; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14071133 - 10 Jul 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1932

Abstract

Northern Kazakhstan is considered a field of uranium, gold mining, copper–molybdenum ore, and other metals. The aims of the current work were to monitor the indoor radon levels in a school and a kindergarten and to determine the levels of teacher and student exposure to radon. High radon concentrations were detected in the school on the first floor at ca. 9600 Bq/m³, on the second floor at ca. 6800 Bq/m³, on the third floor at ca. 4900 Bq/m³, and in the kindergarten, the concentration was ca. 9500 Bq/m³. The annual effective dose of the students and teachers of the school and kindergarten varied from 4 mSv/y to 9 mSv/y, which is an order of magnitude higher than the upper annual dose limit. The excess lifetime cancer risk was 14–20% for students, 31.1% for school and kindergarten staff, and 34.9% for kindergarten children. The indoor radon concentrations varied with weather conditions, and it was evident that ventilation had a significant effect on the reduction in the concentration. At these premises, positive correlations between the radon concentrations, outside temperature, and relative humidity were obtained, showing that the concentration of radon is influenced by meteorological parameters. This study will help to identify buildings where continuous monitoring is needed in order to reduce indoor radon levels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Atmospheric Radon Measurements, Control, Mitigation and Management (2nd Edition))

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25 pages, 19985 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Results and Developments of the Radon Monitoring Network in Seismic Areas

by Victorin Emilian Toader, Constantin Ionescu, Iren-Adelina Moldovan, Alexandru Marmureanu, Nicoleta-Sanda Brisan, Iosif Lıngvay and Andrei Mihai

Atmosphere 2023, 14(7), 1061; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14071061 - 22 Jun 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1998

Abstract

The analysis of the relationship between radon and seismicity was previously carried out in the seismic zone of Vrancea (Romania), positioning the measuring stations on tectonic faults. This article analyzed the evolution of radon under conditions of deep and surface seismicity and the presence of mud volcanoes, as well as fires caused by gasses emanating from the ground. The monitoring area was extended to the Black Sea and the area of the Făgăraș-Câmpulung fault, where a special radon detection system was established and proposed for patenting. The case study was the impact of the earthquakes in Turkey (7.8 R and 7.5 R on 6 February 2023) on the seismically active areas in Romania in terms of gas emissions (radon, CO₂). The main analysis methods for radon (we also included CO₂) were applied to integrated time series and the use of anomaly detection algorithms. Data analysis showed that the effects of global warming led to variations in seasonal gas emissions compared to previous years. This made it difficult to analyze the data and correlate it with seismicity. Several of the cases presented require more in-depth analysis to determine the cause of the unusually high radon levels. The primary purpose of establishing the monitoring network is to use the gas emissions as seismic precursors, but the measurements are affected by the conditions under which the monitoring is conducted. In some cases, we are dealing with the effects of pollution, and in other cases, more extensive studies are required. One solution we plan to use is to expand the measurement points to locate the source of the anomalies and use weather data to determine the impact of global warming on the measurements. The main conclusions related to the development of a radon monitoring network and, in general, to the emission of gasses in earthquake-prone areas relate to the importance of the choice of equipment, monitoring location, and installation method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Atmospheric Radon Measurements, Control, Mitigation and Management (2nd Edition))

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11 pages, 1214 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Determining the Geogenic Radon Potential in Different Layouts and Numbers of Points

by Alexandru Lupulescu, Călin Baciu, Tiberius Dicu, Bety-Denissa Burghele and Alexandra Laura Cucoș

Atmosphere 2023, 14(4), 713; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14040713 - 14 Apr 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1560

Abstract

The geogenic radon potential is primarily controlled by the geological characteristics of the site, such as the rock type and structural elements, as well as the permeability of the soil. Depending on the scope of the survey, the geogenic radon potential can be mapped based on measurements conducted in the field at various resolutions. Detailed surveys are generally labour-intensive and time-consuming. Therefore, a balance should be reached between the desired level of precision and the required amount of effort, delivering the best results with the least number of resources. The international literature describes a variety of surveying techniques. This study was undertaken in a region of the central zone of the Poiana Rusca Mountains (Southern Carpathians, Romania) that contains several metamorphic, volcanic, and sedimentary rock types. The primary objective of the study is to compare alternative sampling point configurations, which vary in number and arrangement. The objective was to achieve the most accurate representation of the calculated geogenic radon potential while limiting the number of measurements and the time and effort associated with them. Radon activity concentration and soil permeability data were collected from 34 locations using seven alternative layouts of the sampling points. The proposed layouts were based on various configurations of fifteen, nine, five, and three sampling points. Locally, in some of the metamorphic units and in the regions containing sedimentary deposits with volcanic intercalations, the geogenic radon potential was found to be elevated. The results indicate that the three-measuring-point configuration is acceptable for general geogenic radon potential surveys. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Atmospheric Radon Measurements, Control, Mitigation and Management (2nd Edition))

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22 pages, 12414 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Understanding the Susceptibility of the Tropical Proglacial Environment in Peru Using Optical Imagery and Radon Measurements

by Diego Antonio García-Tadeo, Modesto Montoya-Zavaleta and Yumin Tan

Atmosphere 2023, 14(3), 568; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14030568 - 16 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3422

Abstract

The tropical glaciers of the Cordillera Blanca have played host to some of the most significant mass movements ever recorded in the world and Peru; many proglacial lakes formed in this mountain range have natural dikes made of moraine material, which, if they collapse, would present a risk for the cities located downstream of a proglacial lake, where the proglacial lake Palcacocha has a remarkable background regarding floods. The Sentinel-2 MSI (Multi-Spectral Instrument, Level-2A) has a specific band for snow probability mapping that indicates glaciers and snow cover; this is effective for recognizing proglacial lakes by calculating the NDWI_ice. It is also helpful for lithology with SWIR for granite moraine deposits and slate moraines in the proglacial environment Palcacocha; these deposits surround the proglacial lake, with NDWI_ice determining the perimeter where sediment interacts with the rocks and meltwater. In addition, there are high radon concentrations made by ice avalanche impacts on the proglacial lake. Unstable glacier blocks cause ice avalanches into this proglacial lake, and the radon responds to flow variations from these high-impact avalanches. We used the device RadonEye PLus2, which allows real-time detection of radon flux changes in the proglacial environment. Our results indicated that ice avalanches making a high impact in the proglacial lake cause turbulent flow and generate radon concentration marks with a rising magnitude, while the absence of ice avalanches in the lake will cause the values to go down. The relationships of radon concentrations in the atmosphere for a tropical proglacial environment are radon and temperature (R² = 0.364), radon and humidity (R² = 0.469). In a passive proglacial environment with prolonged rainfall, radon concentrations tend to decrease, with an inversely proportional relationship between humidity and radon in the tropical proglacial environment. Proglacial lakes in the tropical zone often have large volumes of freshwater with high slopes from tropical glaciers, and climate change effects are an imminent danger for nearby cities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Atmospheric Radon Measurements, Control, Mitigation and Management (2nd Edition))

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21 pages, 2848 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Children’s Exposure to Radon in Schools and Kindergartens in the Republic of Moldova

by Liuba Coretchi, Antoaneta Ene, Serghei Virlan, Mariana Gincu, Aurelia Ababii, Angela Capatina, Alla Overcenco and Valentin Sargu

Atmosphere 2023, 14(1), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14010011 - 21 Dec 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2682

Abstract

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. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Atmospheric Radon Measurements, Control, Mitigation and Management (2nd Edition))

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13 pages, 3130 KiB

Open AccessArticle

High Indoor Radon Case Study: Influence of Meteorological Parameters and Indication of Radon Prone Area

by Dušica Spasić and Ljiljana Gulan

Atmosphere 2022, 13(12), 2120; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13122120 - 16 Dec 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3029

Abstract

Indoor radon and meteorological parameters (temperature, humidity, pressure, precipitation, indoor dew point, wind direction, wind speed and heat index) were simultaneously monitored in an old residential house in a radon suspected area. Measurements were performed during the period from winter to summer (13 February 2021–15 August 2021). Indoor radon concentrations were measured with detectors, Airthings Corentium Home (alpha spectrometry method), and meteorological parameters were continuously monitored by the meteorological station WTH600–E (wireless weather station). The influence of geological characteristics in the study area was analyzed, as well as some observed variations and correlations with indoor/outdoor meteorological parameters. The results indicated that indoor radon levels are higher in the spring/summer season than in the winter season. Diurnal radon concentrations varied during measuring period from 303–1708 Bq/m³ (average 949 Bq/m³) and 427–1852 Bq/m³ (average 1116 Bq/m³) for the living room and bedroom, respectively. Indoor radon concentrations correlated with: outdoor/indoor temperature, indoor humidity (r = 0.45, r = 0.40, r = 0.32, r = 0.56, respectively); indoor dew point (r = 0.53); outdoor barometric pressure (r = −0.26); there were no clear correlation with precipitation and outdoor humidity. The health risk due to long-term, high radon exposure was assessed through the calculated inhalation dose. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Atmospheric Radon Measurements, Control, Mitigation and Management (2nd Edition))

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