Geological controls on radon potential in England

Scheib, C.; Appleton, J.D.; Miles, J.C.H.; Hodgkinson, E.

doi:10.1016/j.pgeola.2013.03.004

Cited by 42 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Radon levels in the environment can show important spatial variations on a regional or local scale. It has been recognized that this lateral variability is primarily attributed to geological parameters which control the radon source-term and/ or the radon migration in the ground (Appleton et al, 2015;Bossew, 2015;Drolet et al, 2013Drolet et al, , 2014García-Talavera et al, 2013;Gruber et al, 2013;Hahna et al, 2015;Ielsch et al, 2001Ielsch et al, , 2002Ielsch et al, , 2010Kropat et al, 2014;Scheib et al, 2013;Smethurst et al, 2008;Tondeur et al, 2015;Zhukovsky et al, 2012). Therefore, the knowledge of uranium and/or radium contents in rocks is of primary importance to determine the radon source term.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimation and mapping of uranium content of geological units in France

Ielsch

Cuney

Buscail³

et al. 2017

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimation and mapping of uranium content of geological units in France

Ielsch

Cuney

Buscail³

et al. 2017

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

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“…Geological controls on the radon potential in England, based on indoor radon measurements, have been recently discussed by Scheib et al (2013 Tables 3 and 4 and the statistical results reflect both potential contributions.…”

Section: Geology and Dose Ratesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As can be seen in Figure 5a, the response is Thorium dominated. The Ironstone formation has been particularly well studied in relation to radon exposure (Hodgkinson et al 2006;Scheib et al, 2013).…”

Section: An Example Of the Hires-1 Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The airborne measurements of Uranium therefore provide one of the supporting techniques in the estimation of indoor radon levels alongside known and predicted geological controls (Emery et al, 2005a;Appleton et al, 2008). Radon potential information in the UK (Scheib et al, 2013) is produced by assessing measurements of radon concentration in homes grouped by underlying geology. Detailed studies of the relationships between radon potential, ground-based spectrometry (GS) and airborne measurements (AS) are provided by Emery et al (2005a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Environmental radioactivity in the UK: the airborne geophysical view of dose rate estimates

Beamish¹

2014

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

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Highlights: UK airborne estimates of dose rates have been obtained across 40,000 km ABSTRACTThis study considers UK airborne gamma-ray data obtained through a series of high spatial resolution, low altitude surveys over the past decade. The ground concentrations of the naturally occurring radionuclides Potassium, Thorium and Uranium are converted to air absorbed dose rates and these are used to assess terrestrial exposure levels from both natural and technologically enhanced sources. The high resolution airborne information is also assessed alongside existing knowledge from soil sampling and ground-based measurements of exposure levels. The surveys have sampled an extensive number of the UK lithological bedrock formations and the statistical information provides examples of low dose rate lithologies (the formations that characterise much of southern England) to the highest sustained values associated with granitic terrains. The maximum dose rates (e.g. > 300 nGy.h -1 ) encountered across the sampled granitic terrains are found to vary by a factor of 2. Excluding granitic terrains, the most spatially extensive dose rates (> 50 nGy.h -1 ) are found in association with the Mercia Mudstone Group (Triassic argillaceous mudstones) of eastern England. Geological associations between high dose rate and high radon values are also noted. Recent studies of the datasets has revealed the extent of source rock (i.e. bedrock) flux attenuation by soil moisture in conjunction with the density and porosity of the temperate latitude soils found in the UK. The presence or absence of soil cover (and associated presence or absence of attenuation) appears to account for a range of localised variations in the exposure levels encountered. The hypothesis is supported by a study of an extensive combined data set of dose rates obtained from soil sampling and by airborne geophysical survey. With no attenuation factors applied, except those intrinsic to the airborne estimates, a bias to high values of between 10 and 15 nGy.h -1 is observed in the soil data. A wide range of technologically enhanced, localised contributions to dose rate values are also apparent in the data sets. Two detailed examples are provided that reveal the detectability of site-scale environmental impacts due to former industrial activities and the high dose values (>500 nGy.h -1) that are associated with former, small-scale Uranium mining operations.

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“…Additionally, a more significant contribution of radon in residential substructures results from soil gas derived from geologic materials enriched in 238 U rather than directly from groundwater. Regardless, elevated concentrations of radon gas may be predicted based upon the type of geological material underlying dwellings and the transmission of the radon through soils with high permeability (Appleton, 2007;Gundersen et al, 1992;Scheib et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%