Abstract:Interlaboratory exercises are a good tool to compare the response of different systems to the same quantity and to identify possible inconsistencies between them. One of the main goals of the EMPIR 19ENV01 traceRadon project is to harmonize radon flux measurements based on different systems and methodologies. In the framework of the traceRadon Project, two radon flux intercomparison campaigns were carried out in October 2021 at high and at low radon source areas. Four institutions participated in the field int… Show more
“…This finding suggests that an increase in radon concentration in soil does not necessarily result in an increase in RFD, but it increases the chance of encountering high values. Similar results were previously obtained in loose rocks of a similar composition [68,69]. It is known that the relationship between RFD and soil radon decreases as depth increases.…”
The main purpose of this study is to assess the radon hazard in areas near the boundary of a coal mine. Our assessment included an analysis of the soil’s radon volume activity (VAR) and radon flux density (RFD), as well as their spatial characteristics and correlations with other factors. The soil VAR varies in the range from 3477.7 to 17,520 Bq/m3 (mean value 9786.9 ± 474.9 Bq/m3), and RFD from 10 to 160 mBq·m−2·s−1 with a mean value of 59.76 ± 2.45 mBq·m−2·s−1. The RFD parameter is spatially clustered (p ≤ 0.01). No significant differences between RFD and soil VAR were found, both inside and outside the minefield areas (p ≥ 0.05). However, we suggest considering the entire studied space of the minefield boundaries and surroundings to be radon-hazardous. This contributes to the understanding of the radon hazard of coal mines for ground structures both in the mine area and in its surroundings.
“…This finding suggests that an increase in radon concentration in soil does not necessarily result in an increase in RFD, but it increases the chance of encountering high values. Similar results were previously obtained in loose rocks of a similar composition [68,69]. It is known that the relationship between RFD and soil radon decreases as depth increases.…”
The main purpose of this study is to assess the radon hazard in areas near the boundary of a coal mine. Our assessment included an analysis of the soil’s radon volume activity (VAR) and radon flux density (RFD), as well as their spatial characteristics and correlations with other factors. The soil VAR varies in the range from 3477.7 to 17,520 Bq/m3 (mean value 9786.9 ± 474.9 Bq/m3), and RFD from 10 to 160 mBq·m−2·s−1 with a mean value of 59.76 ± 2.45 mBq·m−2·s−1. The RFD parameter is spatially clustered (p ≤ 0.01). No significant differences between RFD and soil VAR were found, both inside and outside the minefield areas (p ≥ 0.05). However, we suggest considering the entire studied space of the minefield boundaries and surroundings to be radon-hazardous. This contributes to the understanding of the radon hazard of coal mines for ground structures both in the mine area and in its surroundings.
“…We did not find a relationship between soil VAR and RFD. Similar results have been obtained before [59]. For a similar area with loess-like loams, the authors also noted significant differences in RFD and soil radon [60].…”
The aim of this study is the primary assessment of radon hazard of the Zhurinsky fault of the Kuznetsk coal basin, in the territory of the Salair–Altai–Irtysh fold. Soil radon content, radon flux densities, their spatial characteristics and correlations with each other and with other factors were evaluated. We found that soil radon concentration varies within the range of 3599 to 14,413 Bq/m3 (mean value 8766 ± 569.8 Bq/m3), and radon flux density ranges from 23 to 147 mBq·m−2·s−1 with a mean value of 67.19 ± 1.31 mBq·m−2·s−1. A correlation with air temperature, pressure and humidity was found, which decreases with the depth of the measurements. All studied parameters in space are clustered (p ≤ 0.1). At the same time, the whole studied area in the vicinity of the tectonic disturbance should be classified as radon-hazardous, and residential structures located within its boundaries as potentially hazardous. Our study contributes to understanding the radon hazard of crustal faults.
“…The comparison of radon monitors was carried out at the Laboratory of Natural Radiation (LNR) (see Figure 1 ), located at the former uranium mine managed by ENUSA Industrias Avanzadas (Saelices el Chico, Salamanca, Spain) [ 8 ]. This facility has been used since 2000 to carry out several intercomparison exercises and in situ calibrations, addressing the measurement of radon concentration in indoor air, radon exhalation rate from soil, radon concentration in soil, and external gamma radiation dose rate under environmental conditions [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]. The suitability of this environment for such activities is attributed to the high content of radioactive elements present in the soil, together with the site-specific environmental conditions.…”
A comparison of low-cost radon monitors was conducted at the Laboratory of Natural Radiation (LNR). The monitors we evaluated were EcoQube, RadonEye, RadonEye Plus2, Spirit, ViewPlus, ViewRadon and WavePlus. An AlphaGUARD monitor calibrated at the Laboratory of Environmental Radioactivity of the University of Cantabria (LaRUC), accredited for testing and calibration according to ISO/IEC 17025, provided the reference value of radon concentration. The temporal stability of the monitors was studied, obtaining a percentage of missing records ranged from 1% to 19% of the data. The main technical characteristics studied were temporal stability, measurement ranges, accuracy, correlation and response time. The main results show that the measurement ranges align with those specified by their manufacturers, with percentage differences with respect to the reference monitor of between 5% and 16%. The diversity found for response time is remarkable, with values ranging from 1 to 15 h, with Pearson correlation factors between 0.63 and 0.90.
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