Radon
1
Uranium decay chain
2
Radon decay chain
Radon
222
3.82 d
α
Polonium
218
3.11 m
α
Lead β β Polonium
Bismuth
214 214 214
26.8 m 19.9 m 164 µsec
α
Lead210 β Polonium
22.3 y 210
138 d
α
Lead 206
Stabile
3
Growth of radon daughters
2.50E-03
2.00E-03
Attività U.A.
1.50E-03
R n222
1.00E-03
Po218
Pb214
5.00E-04 Bi214
Po214
1.00E-09
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000
Tempo (s)
4
Unit of measurements
Radon concentration: Bq/m3
Radon exposure: Bq h/m3 radon concentration integrated in time
Potential alpha energy (PAE) : Total alpha energy emitted by a
nucleus along the decay chain to 210Pb.
218Po PAE=13.68 MeV (6.00 MeV from 218Po + 7.68 MeV from 214Po)
214Pb PAE=7,68 MeV (7.68 MeV from 214Po)
214Bi PAE=7,68 MeV (7.68 MeV from 214Po)
214Po PAE=7,68 MeV (7.68 MeV from itself)
Potential alpha energy concentration (PAEC): Sum of the PAE of all
the nuclei in a unit of volume.
Unit of measurement: MeV/l or J/m3
Ci is the number of nuclei of i-th radon
"!
PAEC=∑ 𝐶! # 𝑃𝐴𝐸! = ∑ # 𝑃𝐴𝐸! daughter per unit of volume
#!
i runs over the radon daughters
5
Unit of measurements
(!"#!
4,000
C= )
3,500 10,000,000
1,000,000
3,000
Acrivity concentration A.U.
100,000
Nuclides concentration A.U.
10,000
2,500
1,000
Po218 −𝛼
2,000 100 Po218 −𝛼
Pb-214
10 Pb-214
1,500 Bi-214
01 Bi-214
Po-214 − 𝛼 00 0 50 100 150 200 250
1,000 Po-214 − 𝛼
00
500 00
00
00
0 50 100 150 200 250 00
Time minutes
Time minutes
Pb-214 and Bi-214 overlapped
The beta emitters are the most important nuclides as far as the PAEC is concerned
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Unit of measurements
Working Level (WL): unit of measurement of PAEC. (not in the IS) It is
defined as the PAEC associated to a radon concentration of 3700 Bq/m3
(100 pCi/l) in equilibrium.
3700 Bq/m2 <-> 1WL=2.08 10-5 J/m3
Working Level Month (WLM): 1 WLM is the exposure to 1 WL for a
working month (170 ore)
1 WLM = 170 WLh = 170 x 2.08 10-5 J m-3 = 3.5 10-3 J h m-3
In a workplace is the radon progeny in equilibrium with the 222Rn?
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Unit of measurements
Usually not because radon daughters are heavy metal ions, very
reactive and can attach to the particulate and plate out on: walls,
floor, furniture etc. Usually the PAEC is lower that expected under
equilibrium conditions.
Equilibrium equivalent radon concentration (EEC): Is the radon
concentration in equilibrium with its daughters whose PAEC is equal to a
given mixture of radon daughters not in equilibrium.
Equilibrium factor (EF): It is the ratio between the EEC and the actual
radon concentration in a given environment. A commonly accepted
equilibrium factor indoor is EF=0.4
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Relative risk of lung cancer according to measured residential radon concentration and usual
residential radon concentration, with best fitting straight lines
(risks are relative to that at 0 Bq/m3)
Darby, S et al. BMJ 2005;330:223
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Pathways
Radon is emanated from
the Uranium rich soil or
rocks
Radon can also be found
in water
Radon escapes easily
from the ground into air
where it decays into its
progeny.
World Health Organisation
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Indoor time variation
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Passive measurement with tracks detectors
DETECTOR
CR-39
25x25mm
15 x 15 mm
Thickness 1.5 mm
HOLDER
modello HM-10
diametro 50 mm
altezza 20 mm
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Passive measurement with tracks detectors
Take the CR-39 detector Put CR-39 in base of holder Clip in the cover of the holder
(a) (b) (c)
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Track detectors
CR39
It is a plastic
polymer Physics of track detectors
commonly When an ionizing charged particle
used for passes through a dielectric material
producing the transfer of energy to electrons
glasses results in a breaking of the polymeric
chains.
The tracks can be made visible with a
chemical treatment, called “Etching”.
The opening of the track is then of
10 µm
about 5-20 µm depending on the type
and energy of the hadrons.
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Track formation
The condition for the
formation of the track is
Vt>Vb
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Track reading
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Track reading
Tracks appare as dark
dots. The size and the
shape of the tracks
reflect the impinging
angle and the energy of
the particle
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Calibration in a radon chamber
Detectors are exposed in a
reference radon
atmosphere at a known
exposure (Bq*h/m3)
A calibration factor can be
Cf is calculated as ratio
between track density and
exposure.
POLIMI radon chamber
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Calculation of Rn exposure
!!"#$%&
Exposure = [Bq*h/m3]
"'
Where 𝜌*+,-./ is the track density expressed in cm-2 and Cf is the
calibration factor.
A typical value is Cf = 0.4 𝑐𝑚01 $ 𝑚2 $ 𝑘𝐵𝑞03 $ ℎ03
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Calculation of Rn concentration
#$%&'()*
Concentration = [Bq/m3]
+,-* (/)
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Limit of radon concentration
Old limits, before 27/8/2020
• Italian law: no limit for residential building
• Workplaces: 500 Bq/m3 action level, 400
Bq/m3 intervention level.
21
Limit of radon concentration
Reference level, Italian act [Link] 101/2020:
(Issued on 31/7/2020 and in force since 27/8/2020)
extend the limit to residential building as
«Suggestion». It means no fine can be issued
a) 300 Bq m -3 existing buildings (residential)
b) 200 Bq m -3 buildings (residential) built after
31/12/2024
c) 300 Bq m -3 Workplaces
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Limit of radon concentration
In case the limit is overcome the procedure is:
• Call an expert in radon mitigation
• Undertake the proper countermeasures to reduce the
concentration
• Run a 1 year long measurement to check the effectiveness of
the countermeasure
• In case the concentration maintains above limit, call a
radiation protection expert (RPE) for dose assessment. If the
RPE assesses a dose below 6 mSv/year OK. If not the worker
must be classified as exposed to radiation. (for private
dwellings it’s not clear what to do)
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BSS (Basic Safety Standard)
Radon in workplaces
§Establishment of a national radon action plan
§Establishment of a national reference level
for indoor radon concentration in workplaces ≤ 300 Bq/m3
§Identification of priority areas
§Radon measurements in workplaces
üRadon prone areas
üSpecific types of workplaces identified in the
national action plan
§If radon concentrations remain > national
reference level (despite optimisation)
üNotify the competent authority
üIntroduce occupational exposure arrangements
ü≤ 6mSv/a Exposures need to be kept under review
ü> 6mSv/a Situation to be managed as a planned exposure situation
Where appropriate, provision of financial support for radon surveys and for remedial measures,
in particular for private dwellings with very high radon concentrations.
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How to manage the radon measuring campaign
First step: identify the measuring campaign coordinator
The detector in sealed in a radon proof bag. In this configuration it doesn’t measure
1. First step, take a detector and fill the form [Link]
[Link]/:x:/g/personal/10005649_polimi_it/ERWOURrfT6JCts7tEIrgjDkBqB0c6x0OzReoQ38bVXlchg?e=QL3MPY
2. Take your detector home and find a proper measuring place
• For people living in a flat the best position is the bedroom where about 1/3 of the
time is spent.
• For people living in an independent house a good position is a cellar, if you have or a
room at ground level
• Try, if possible to keep the detector about 30 cm from the wall, especially if the wall
is in direct contact with the ground
3. Cut the bag and take the detector out of it. This is the measuring starting time.
Communicate the starting time to the coordinator
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How to place the detector
1) Better at ground level or basement, if any
2) In cellars a higher concentration is expected, but is not a living place and
can be not so meaningful
3) A basement in which you spend time is the best place
4) If you live in a flat, it could be placed on the bedside table
5) If possible keep it 30 cm far from a perimetral wall. In fact not only 222Rn
can be present, but also 220Rn (also called Thoron). Thoron has a decay
time about 54 s and 30 cm is a diffusion distance enough for its decay.
At the end of the measurement, If you have the possibility to seal the detector
in its original bag, do it. If you haven’t, don’t worry I’ll do that for you
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