The ENEA Facilities for Assessing the Quality of Indoor Radon Measurements

Abstract A status report is given of the ENEA research activities on calibration and standardisation of radon measurement techniques. A description of radon standards and experimental facilities (the ENEA Radon Chamber and the 222Rn standard generator) developed at the Casaccia Research Centre is given. The experimental procedures to test the charcoal canister radon adsorption are described. The results of investigation of the response of passive plastic detectors (CR-39) at different exposure conditions at the ENEA radon chamber are discussed: dynamic range and accuracy of passive alpha track detectors in the range from 60 to about 7000 kBq.m-3.h radon exposure. Finally a brief description is given of the experimental facility that is under development to test instruments and methods that are used to measure the emanation/exhalation of radon gas from soils and building materials.

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A review of radon measurement studies with nuclear track detectors (NTDs) in Azad Kashmir

Indoor and Built Environment ◽

10.1177/1420326x15626236 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 26 (4) ◽

pp. 447-455

Author(s):

Abdul Razzaq Khan ◽

Muhammad Rafique ◽

Saeed Ur Rahman ◽

Kimberlee J. Kearfott ◽

Matiullah

Keyword(s):

Building Materials ◽

Indoor Radon ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Radon Measurement ◽

Nuclear Track Detectors ◽

The Subject ◽

Public Exposure ◽

Azad Kashmir ◽

Radon Measurements ◽

Clear Information

Inhalation of radon and its progeny are the most important component of public exposure to natural radiations. Many epidemiological studies have established the fact that radon and radon progeny are associated with increased incidence of lung cancer. Beside health concerns, radon is an important consideration in other fields, e.g. hydrological research, detection of geological fault lines, prediction of earthquake, uranium deposits and oil exploration. The importance of the subject compelled many scientists to develop methods for measurement and mitigation of radon. During last decade many studies for measurement of radon and thoron have been conducted in Azad Kashmir. In most studies, the techniques used involve the usage of solid state nuclear track detectors. Building materials, including granite, marbles, gravel aggregates, bricks, sand and soil have been characterized through radon exhalation rate studies. Several research articles have been published, reporting indoor radon measurements in dwellings and at workplaces. Though these studies have provided preliminary information about radon levels in the area, however, data obtained are still unable to convey clear information to readers. This review paper attempts to organize the radon data to provide a clearer understanding and roadmap for radon measurements in Azad Kashmir.

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Overview on Fusion Nuclear Technology Experimental Testing

Journal of Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science ◽

10.1115/1.4031942 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Slavomir Entler ◽

Jan Kysela

Keyword(s):

Eutectic Alloy ◽

Nuclear Reactor ◽

Experimental Testing ◽

High Heat ◽

Neutron Field ◽

Research Centre ◽

Nuclear Technology ◽

High Heat Flux ◽

Research Activities ◽

Experimental Facilities

Research Centre Rez in the Czech Republic has carried out a number of research and development activities on the nuclear technology of the fusion reactor International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). These contributions have led to the development of numerous experimental facilities. The initial experimental research related to ITER was focused on the technology of the LiPb eutectic alloy, and a production unit and technological channel were constructed. At a later time, material tests were performed in the neutron field of the LVR-15 research nuclear reactor. Interactions of EUROFER 97 and the LiPb eutectic alloy were examined in in-pile and out-pile tests, and the technology of the LiPb was developed. First wall mock-ups were in-pile and out-pile tested under high heat flux (HHF) cycle loads. At present, a full-size mock-up of the ITER Test Blanket System (TBS) and an HHF testing complex are constructed. This paper provides an overview of the research activities and experimental facilities.

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SPATIAL VARIABILITY OF INDOOR RADON CONCENTRATION IN SCHOOLS: IMPLICATIONS ON RADON MEASUREMENT PROTOCOLS

Radiation Protection Dosimetry ◽

10.1093/rpd/ncaa137 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 191 (2) ◽

pp. 133-137

Author(s):

Z Curguz ◽

G Venoso ◽

Z S Zunic ◽

D Mirjanic ◽

M Ampollini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spatial Variability ◽

Radon Concentration ◽

Indoor Radon ◽

Reference Level ◽

Indoor Radon Concentration ◽

Radon Measurement ◽

Ground Floor ◽

Preliminary Study ◽

The Republic ◽

Radon Measurements

Abstract The requirements about radon measurements in schools and public buildings included in most of the national and international legislations are generally restricted to all the rooms located at the ground floor and basement, assuming the soil beneath the building as the main source of indoor radon. In order to verify such an assumption for small buildings having at maximum two floors, a preliminary study was performed in 50 schools located in 15 municipalities of the Republic of Srpska. Results of this study suggest that a protocol requiring measurements at the ground floor only may be considered adequate. Due to the high radon spatial variability for rooms at the ground floor, it is preferable to require measurements in a high number of rooms (preferably in all of them) in order to assess the compliance with the reference level established by the legislation.

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A comparison of retrospective radon gas measurement techniques carried out in the Serbian spa of Niska Banja

Nuclear Technology and Radiation Protection ◽

10.2298/ntrp0902094z ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 24 (2) ◽

pp. 94-99 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Zora Zunic ◽

Kevin Kelleher ◽

Igor Celikovic ◽

Predrag Ujic ◽

Johan Paridaens ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Indoor Radon ◽

Measurement Techniques ◽

Measurement Methods ◽

Radon Progeny ◽

Surface Trap ◽

Radon Measurement ◽

The Past ◽

Radon Gas ◽

Gas Measurement ◽

The University

Indoor radon retrospective concentrations were obtained and compared using two radon measurement methods. Both methods rely on the measurement of the long-lived radon progeny 210Pb, collected either on the surfaces (surface trap technique), most frequently glass, or in a volume trap, usually sponge from furniture (volume trap technique). These techniques have been used to retrospectively estimate radon gas concentrations that have existed in dwellings in the past. The work presented here compares the results provided by the surface trap technique devised at the University College of Dublin, Ireland, and the volume trap technique devised at the Scientific Research Center, Mol, Belgium. The field campaign was carried out by the research team of the ECE Laboratory of the Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences at the spa of Niska Banja, identified as a region of Serbia with a high indoor radon and ground water radium and radon content.

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Radon variability due to floor level in two typical residential buildings in Serbia

Nukleonika ◽

10.2478/nuka-2020-0019 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 65 (2) ◽

pp. 121-125 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Vladimir Udovicic ◽

Nikola Veselinovic ◽

Dimitrije Maletic ◽

Radomir Banjanac ◽

Aleksandar Dragic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Building Materials ◽

Indoor Radon ◽

Residential Building ◽

Ground Level ◽

Single Family ◽

Floor Level ◽

High Rise ◽

Radon Variability ◽

Radon Measurements ◽

Family House

AbstractIt is well known that one of the factors that influence the indoor radon variability is the floor level of the buildings. Considering the fact that the main source of indoor radon is radon in soil gas, it is expected that the radon concentration decreases at higher floors. Thus at higher floors the dominant source of radon is originating from building materials, and in some cases there may be deviations from the generally established regularity. In such sense, we chose one freestanding single-family house with loft and other 16-floor high-rise residential building for this study. The indoor radon measurements were performed by two methods: passive and active. We used passive devices based on track-etched detectors: Radtrak2 Radonova. For the short-term indoor radon measurements, we used two active devices: SN1029 and SN1030 (manufactured by Sun Nuclear Corporation). The first device was fixed in the living room at the ground level and the second was moved through the floors of the residential building. Every measuring cycle at the specified floor lasted seven days with the sampling time of 2 h. The results show two different indoor radon behaviours regarding radon variability due to floor level. In the single-family house with loft we registered intense difference between radon concentration in the ground level and loft, while in the high-rise residential building the radon level was almost the same at all floors, and hence we may conclude that radon originated mainly from building materials.

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Methods of radon measurement

Facta universitatis - series Physics Chemistry and Technology ◽

10.2298/fupct0601001f ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

S. Forkapic ◽

I. Bikit ◽

Lj Conkic ◽

M. Veskovic ◽

J. Slivka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Problem ◽

Radon Concentration ◽

Nuclear Physics ◽

Building Materials ◽

Inert Gas ◽

Radon Measurement ◽

Scientific Organizations ◽

Drinking Waters ◽

Novi Sad ◽

Radon Measurements

Several important international scientific organizations have designated radon as a carcinogenic and serious health problem. As a chemically inert gas, it is easily released from soil, building materials, and water, to emanate to the atmosphere. Since 1992, Laboratory for Nuclear Physics of the Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences in Novi Sad has been involved in measurements of radon concentration in air, using several different techniques. Last year, systematic radon measurements in drinking waters began, too. The work presented here gives a survey and discussion of the results of the both series of measurements.

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Using geographic information systems for radon exposure assessment in dwellings in the Oslo region, Norway

Natural Hazards and Earth System Science ◽

10.5194/nhess-14-739-2014 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 14 (4) ◽

pp. 739-749 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

R. Kollerud ◽

K. Blaasaas ◽

G. Ganerød ◽

H. K. Daviknes ◽

E. Aune ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Exposure Assessment ◽

Residential Buildings ◽

Indoor Radon ◽

Intraclass Correlation ◽

Epidemiologic Study ◽

Geographic Information ◽

Radon Measurement ◽

Radon Exposure ◽

Geological Conditions ◽

Radon Measurements

Abstract. Radon exposures were assigned to each residential address in the Oslo region using a geographic information system (GIS) that included indoor radon measurements. The results will be used in an epidemiologic study regarding leukemia and brain cancer. The model is based on 6% of measured residential buildings. High density of indoor radon measurements allowed us to develop a buffer model where indoor radon measurements found around each dwelling were used to assign a radon value for homes lacking radon measurement. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to study the agreement between radon values from the buffer method, from indoor radon values of measured houses, and from a regression model constructed with radiometric data (eTh, eU) and bedrock geology. We obtained good agreement for both comparisons with ICC values between 0.54 and 0.68. GIS offers a useful variety of tools to study the indoor-radon exposure assessment. By using the buffer method it is more likely that geological conditions are similar within the buffer and this may take more into account the variation of radon over short distances. It is also probable that short-distance-scale correlation patterns express similarities in building styles and living habits. Although the method has certain limitations, we regard it as acceptable for use in epidemiological studies.

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