Overview of Radon Flux Characteristics, Measurements, Models and Its Potential Use for the Estimation of Radon Priority Areas
Igor Čeliković,
Gordana Pantelić,
Ivana Vukanac,
Jelena Krneta Nikolić,
Miloš Živanović,
Giorgia Cinelli,
Valeria Gruber,
Sebastian Baumann,
Giancarlo Ciotoli,
Luis Santiago Quindos Poncela,
Daniel Rábago
Affiliations
Igor Čeliković
”VINČA” Institute of Nuclear Sciences—National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Gordana Pantelić
”VINČA” Institute of Nuclear Sciences—National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Ivana Vukanac
”VINČA” Institute of Nuclear Sciences—National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Jelena Krneta Nikolić
”VINČA” Institute of Nuclear Sciences—National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Miloš Živanović
”VINČA” Institute of Nuclear Sciences—National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Giorgia Cinelli
Laboratory of Observations and Measurements for the Climate and the Environment, National Agency for New Technologies, Energy, and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), 90141 Palermo, Italy
Valeria Gruber
Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Department of Radon and Radioecology, 4020 Linz, Austria
Sebastian Baumann
Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Department of Radon and Radioecology, 4020 Linz, Austria
Giancarlo Ciotoli
Institute of Environmental Geology and Geoengineering, National Research Council, 00015 Rome, Italy
Luis Santiago Quindos Poncela
Radon Group, University of Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain
Daniel Rábago
Radon Group, University of Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain
Radon flux measurements provide information about how much radon rises from the ground toward the atmosphere, thus, they could serve as good predictors of indoor radon concentrations. Although there are many different mapping methods with many different input data, radon flux data are generally missing and are not included for the delineation of radon priority areas (RPA). The aim of this literature review is to investigate to what extent radon flux was used, or could be used, for the delineation of RPAs. Numerous factors influencing radon flux were identified, but quantifying their contribution to radon flux measurement still remains a challenge. Different methods and measuring devices were used for the determination of radon flux, thus it is necessary to identify possible inconsistencies in order to harmonise different radon flux measurements. Due to the complexity of radon flux measurements, only two countries were identified to have performed national surveys on outdoor radon, which were of much smaller scale compared to those on indoor radon. A positive correlation between radon flux and radon quantities, such as radon in soil gas and indoor radon, indicates that radon flux could be used as an input parameter for the estimation of RPA. By reviewing radon flux models, it was concluded that up-to-date modelled radon flux maps have reached excellent spatial resolution and will be further improved, hence, they could serve as an input for the estimation and delineation of RPA.
