Survey of {sup 222}Rn concentrations in dwellings and soils in the Dutch Belgian border region

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1996 · Health Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-199601000-00010· OSTI ID:258433

Albering, H J; Hoogewerff, J A; Kleinjans, J C.S. ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Limburg, Maastricht (Netherlands)

{sup 222}Rn levels in dwellings and soil gas have been investigated in the Eijsden-Vise region, located at the Dutch-Belgian border, in order to analyze the relationship between domestic radon levels and soil gas radon levels, in view of the fact that the local geology varies substantially from uranium-rich to uranium-poor rocks and soils. During February 1992, charcoal detectors were exposed for 24 h in 116 dwellings in the township of Vise, a radon prone area in Belgium. As expected, the results show a large regional variation, with an averaged indoor air radon level of 116 Bq m{sup {minus}3}. In the nearby township of Eijsden, the Netherlands, an area with a lower radiation level, similar measurements by means of charcoal detectors in 42 dwellings during March 1993, resulted in an averaged indoor {sup 222}Rn concentration of 46 Bq m{sup {minus}3}. Furthermore, in the same region time-integrated radon measurements were performed in 15 dwellings on different floors. These results indicate that a gradient in indoor air radon concentration exists from basement to upper floor level. In addition, a significant positive correlation has been found between radon gas levels of soils surrounding 26 houses and indoor air radon levels. The variation in indoor air radon levels in the region under study is mainly due to the variation of the radon potential of an area taking into account the spatial heterogeneity of the local geology. 21 refs., 5 figs., 1 tab.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 258433
• Journal Information: Health Physics, Journal Name: Health Physics Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 70; ISSN HLTPAO; ISSN 0017-9078
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
AIR
BELGIUM
CHARCOAL
FLOORS
GEOLOGY
HOUSES
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIOACTIVITY
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RADON 222
ROCKS
SOILS
URANIUM