RadoNorm

New RadoNorm publication on Determination of the Radon Progeny Activity Size Distribution Eliška Fialova and Petr Otahal from SUJCHBO, working in WP5 (Mitigation) of RadoNorm, published their latest research in the MDPI journal Atmosphere titled Determination of the Radon Progeny Activity Size Distribution in Laboratory Conditions https://lnkd.in/ddKTA-yi. The paper describes the development and laboratory verification of a methodology for determining the size distribution of radon daughter products. The activity size distribution of radon daughter products was determined using the cascade impactor Decati ELPI+ combined with a Graded Screen Array Diffusion Battery (GSADB). These two devices enable the determination of the activity size distribution in the range from 0.3 nm to 10 μm. This and more RadoNorm publication can be found on our website https://lnkd.in/dxbHH3kg. #radonorm #paper

RadoNorm Highlights Presented at Radon Week and ROOMS Workshop in Madeira The RadoNorm project took centre stage at the Radon Week and ROOMS Workshop — a conference bringing together members of the international scientific community, radon testers, diagnosticians, educators, public stakeholders, business leaders, and regulatory authorities. Organised by the European Radon Association, the event took place in Madeira, Portugal, on 7 – 10 October 2024 and featured a variety of presentations showcasing cutting-edge research and innovations in radon risk management. RadoNorm researchers made significant contributions across multiple sessions, sharing key findings from their ongoing work. Wolfgang Ringer from AGES presented the results of the study titled “Effectiveness of Passive Radon Drainage Systems in New Homes in Upper Austria,” providing insights into mitigation strategies for radon exposure in residential settings. Tanja Perko from SCK CEN, along with collaborators from MERIENCE, University of Antwerp, and a student from the University of Ljubljana, presented two major studies: “What We Need to Communicate? Results from Evidence-Based Research” and “European Radon Behavioural Atlas: Insights from the Largest and Most Comprehensive Study in Europe.” These presentations shed light on radon-related behavior patterns across Europe and the challenges in effective communication strategies. Catarina Antunes from EPA introduced “The RadAR Project,” one of RadoNorm's 11 citizen science initiatives. This project exemplifies how citizen engagement can enhance radon monitoring and encourage remediation efforts. Additionally, Sofie Apers from the University of Antwerp and SCK CEN unveiled “Radon Buster Across Europe: Theory-Based, Evidence-Based, and Strategic Radon Risk Communication,” a communication toolkit designed to improve public understanding and response to radon risks. Meanwhile, Laura Mezquita from the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona – IDIBAPS, discussed medical perspectives in her presentation, “Radon and Health: How Physicians Approach Communication?” Valeria Gruber from AGES, together with partners from BfS, SCK CEN, SURO, and University Matej Bell, presented “Treatment or Threat? – Challenges and Strategies in Radon Communication in Austria.” This research focused on radon spas, addressing the delicate balance between the potential therapeutic uses of radon and its health risks, while discussing strategies for communicating these nuances effectively to the public. Through these presentations, the RadoNorm team demonstrated that their research is not only impactful but also poised to significantly enhance radon risk mitigation and radon protection behaviour across Europe. The ongoing work promises to contribute to improved policies and practices in tackling radon exposure, benefitting both individuals in exposure situations and public health policymakers alike. hashtag #radonorm

Job position available at University of Gothenburg, Sweden A new position for a PhD candidate as opened up at the University of Gothenburg. The aim of the project is to increase the competence to analyse difficult-to-measure radionuclides in radioactive waste from decommissioning of nuclear facilities by developing, implementing and validating cost-efficient methods for analyses of liquid and solid samples. The chemical separations will apply liquid-liquid extraction with organic solvents and compounds, and precipitations in order to separate the elements based on their solubility and chemical properties. The development of the methods will be based on theoretical and observable data such as solubility, chemical behaviour and complexation with other compounds. Water samples will be spiked with the radionuclides of interest, and chemical separations will be performed where each fraction after each step is measured. The method will then be optimised for water samples. Thereafter, the optimised method for water samples will be applied on solid waste materials, and adjusted and optimised for solid waste. More information can be found in this link https://lnkd.in/dAziTpTU by contacting Violeta Hansen (violeta.hansen@gu.se). #radonorm #openposition

New publication from WP2 on radon monitors T. Beck, E. Foerster, M. Biel, and Sebastian Feige, working WP2 (Exposure), recently published their results on Measurement Performance of Electronic Radon Monitors in Atmosphere https://lnkd.in/dVsYw6HP. Due to progress in technology, new classes of low cost, easy handling and smart designed electronic radon instruments are entering the market, equally attractive for radon professionals and general public. The measurement performance and characteristics of electronic radon monitors with respect to radiological and environmental parameters were investigated by colleagues from BfS. The study included a sample of 14 different types of devices from nine manufacturers. The devices are currently available on the market with acquisition costs in the low or medium range. The investigations show that the metrological characteristics of the different device types vary considerably. In particular, air humidity can have a strong effect on the sensitivity of radon monitors. Good news: The metrological requirements of IEC 61577-2 are met by the majority of devices. Taking into account that typical ambient conditions in indoor air vary in a limited range, the deviations of most instruments are acceptable for this measurement purpose. Congratulations to the authors! This and more of RadoNorm’s latest publications can be found https://lnkd.in/dxbHH3kg. #radonorm #papers

New publication from WP4 A new paper has been published in “Frontiers of Public Health” by Afi Mawulawoe Sylvie Henyoh, Olivier Laurent, Corinne Mandin and Enora Clero at IRSN, France, working in WP4 (Effects & Risks) of RadoNorm. In their paper “Radon exposure and potential health effects other than lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis” https://lnkd.in/dVV-Bf7K, health effects of radon on humans other than lung cancer were explored. For this, a literature review of 129 studies and a meta-analysis of 40 studies were performed. Both occupational and environmental exposures to radon were considered. The results showed no statistically significant association for the investigated diseases, but the associations were positive and close to statistical significance for lympho-haematological cancer in children, as well as malignant melanoma and cancers of the liver, intestine and rectum in adults. Although these results did not allow them to confirm radon-related risks other than lung cancer on the basis of the epidemiological studies currently available, they stress the need for additional research with larger and well-designed studies to investigate this question further. This and more of RadoNorm’s latest publications can be found at https://lnkd.in/dxbHH3kg . #radonorm #papers

New publication from WP2 A new paper has been published in “Atmosphere” by Agata Grygier and Kristian Skubacz at GIG, Poland, working in WP2 of RadoNorm. In their paper “Radon Equilibrium Factor and the Assessment of the Annual Effective Dose at Underground Workplaces” https://lnkd.in/dBR7FvYD, the results of measurements of the equilibrium factor F at the Historic Silver Mine in Tarnowskie Góry are discussed. Since the equilibrium factor is a crucial parameter to be considered when assessing the effective dose based on radon activity concentration, it is essential to know its correct value. The equilibrium factor in different environments theoretically varies from a value close to 0 to 1. It is expected that assessing the dose based on a single recommended coefficient value may lead to underestimation or overestimation of the dose. The equilibrium coefficients were determined from measurements of radon activity concentration and potential alpha energy concentration and ranged from 0.15 to 0.94, with an arithmetic mean of 0.55. The average effective dose calculated for a worker using these values was 31 mSv, assuming an annual working time of 1800 hours This and more of RadoNorm’s latest publications can be found https://lnkd.in/dxbHH3kg. #radonorm #paper

New publication from WP3 A new paper has been published in “Radiation Physics and Chemistry” by colleagues at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany, working in WP3 of RadoNorm. In their paper “Application of INTDOSKIT tool for assessment of uncertainties on dose coefficients for ingestion of uranium by workers” https://lnkd.in/d2vZbQma , the effectiveness of INTDOSKIT was demonstrated in the R programming language with R studio integrated development environment (IDE) to quantify uncertainties in biokinetic model parameters for the calculation of dose coefficients under defined scenarios of U-238 ingestion by workers. Through an analysis of 60,000 replicates, the study produced dose distributions that highlight the variability in model parameters and show that while the ICRP reference values are generally reliable, they may underestimate average doses and miss extreme cases. The sensitivity analysis identified the fraction of uranium absorbed from the alimentary tract into the blood as a key parameter that contributes to uncertainty hence emphasizing the need for accurate estimation of this parameter. The study supports the robustness of INTDOSKIT and suggests that while ICRP values are useful, the incorporation of additional statistical measures such as higher percentiles or the use of the mean as a reference value could improve radiation protection and dose assessment for U-238 ingestion. These and more of RadoNorm’s latest publications can be found https://lnkd.in/dxbHH3kg. #radonorm #paper

New publication from WP5 A new paper titled “The influence of radon penetration through joints on the overall radon barrier properties of waterproof membranes” was published by authors M. Jiránek, V. Kačmaříková and Z. Svoboda in the Journal of Building Engineering https://lnkd.in/dibQ3EUT. The paper summarises the results of an experimental study on the radon tightness of joints of the pre-applied waterproof membranes. It has been proven that leaks in the joints can reduce the radon resistance of the whole radon-proof course by two to three orders of magnitude. Therefore, manufacturers must pay more attention to the development and verification of sealing materials and joint technologies. hashtag #radonorm hashtag #papers

New Publication from WP2 J. F. Rey and colleagues from the institutes HES-SO, EPFL, ISS, AGES and IRSN have published their “Systematic review of statistical methods for the identification of buildings and areas with high radon levels” in Frontiers in Public Health https://lnkd.in/dzSBD7PH. This paper provides a systematic review of the methods used to identify radon prone areas and buildings, following the PRISMA methodology. The methodologies were classified into four main categories: 1) descriptive methods, 2) regression methods, 3) geostatistical methods, and 4) machine learning methods. For each method, advantages and disadvantages were presented, and examples of applications provided. The ultimate purpose of this review is to offer researchers a comprehensive synthesis to optimise the selection of methods for identifying radon-prone areas and buildings. This and more publications can be found on our website.  #radonorm #papers

New Publication from WP6 M. Hoedoafia, M. Martell and T. Perko from SCK CEN and MERIENCE have published their latest findings summarising the developments from the citizen science (CS) projects funded by RadoNorm’s open call https://lnkd.in/duF3kz5M. The article titled “Evaluating citizen science projects: insights from radon research” in Frontiers in Environmental Science https://lnkd.in/dmZDqXVy an evaluation tool for such projects and furthermore demonstrated that CS projects in this field can improve radon testing and mitigation rates, as well as increase knowledge and awareness about radon. These projects can provide new scientific knowledge, empower participants in decision-making, and have a societal impact on affected communities. However, the evaluation also identified challenges, such as initial motivation of citizens, sustainability constraints, limited scientific impact and the influence of project results on policy-making and legislation. This and more publications can be found on our website.  #radonorm #citizenscience