Using a scale model room to assess the contribution of building material of volcanic origin to indoor radon

• Autorzy: Lucchetti Carlo , Castelluccio Mauro , Altamore Matteo , Briganti Alessandra , Galli Gianfranco , Soligo Michele , Tuccimei Paola , Voltaggio Mario

Identyfikatory

DOI

10.2478/nuka-2020-0010

• Konferencja: III International Conference „Radon in the Environment” (3 ; 27-31 May 2019 ; Krakow, Poland)
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

In the frame of Radon rEal time monitoring System and Proactive Indoor Remediation (RESPIRE), a LIFE 2016 project funded by the European Commission, the contribution of building materials of volcanic origin to indoor radon concentration was investigated. First, total gamma radiation and related outdoor dose rates of geological materials in the Caprarola area (Central Italy) were measured to define main sources of radiation. Second, 222Rn and 220Rn exhalation rates of these rocks used as building materials were measured using an accumulation chamber connected in a closed loop with a RAD7 radon monitor. Among others, the very porous “Tufo di Gallese” ignimbrite provided the highest values. This material was then used to construct a scale model room of 62 cm × 50 cm × 35 cm (inner length × width × height, respectively) to assess experimental radon and thoron activity concentration at equilibrium and study the effects of climatic conditions and different coatings on radon levels. A first test was carried out at ambient temperature to determine experimental 222Rn and 220Rn equilibrium activities in the model room, not covered with plaster or other coating materials. Experimental 222Rn equilibrium was recorded in just two days demonstrating that the room “breaths”, exchanging air with the outdoor environment. This determines a dilution of indoor radon concentration. Other experiments showed that inner covers (such as plasterboard and different kinds of paints) partially influence 222Rn but entirely cut the short-lived 220Rn. Finally, decreases in ambient temperature reduce radon exhalation from building material and, in turn, indoor activity concentration.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

building materials; indoor radon; indoor thoron; model room; natural radiation; radon; thoron exhalation rates

• Wydawca: Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology
• Czasopismo: Nukleonika
• Rocznik: 2020
• Tom: Vol. 65, No. 2
• Strony: 71--76
• Opis fizyczny: Bibliogr. 10 poz., rys.

Twórcy

autor

Lucchetti Carlo

• Università “La Sapienza” Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy
• Università “Roma Tre”, Dipartimento di Scienze Largo San Leonardo Murialdo 1, 00146 Roma, Italy

autor

Castelluccio Mauro

• Università “La Sapienza” Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy
• Università “Roma Tre”, Dipartimento di Scienze Largo San Leonardo Murialdo 1, 00146 Roma, Italy

autor

Altamore Matteo

• Università “Roma Tre”, Dipartimento di Scienze Largo San Leonardo Murialdo 1, 00146 Roma, Italy

autor

Briganti Alessandra

• Università “Roma Tre”, Dipartimento di Scienze Largo San Leonardo Murialdo 1, 00146 Roma, Italy

autor

Galli Gianfranco

• Istituto Nazionale di Geofi sica e Vulcanologia Sezione Roma 1 Via di Vigna Murata 605, 00143 Roma, Italy

autor

Soligo Michele

• Università “Roma Tre”, Dipartimento di Scienze Largo San Leonardo Murialdo 1, 00146 Roma, Italy

autor

Tuccimei Paola

• Università “Roma Tre”, Dipartimento di Scienze Largo San Leonardo Murialdo 1, 00146 Roma, Italy

autor

Voltaggio Mario

• Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Istituto di Geologia Ambientale e Geoingegneria Area della Ricerca Roma 1, Via Salaria km 29.300, 00015 Monterotondo, Roma, Italy

Bibliografia

• 1. National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements. (2009). Ionizing radiation exposure of the population of the United States. Bethesda, MD: NCRP. (Report no. 160).
• 2. Bruno, R. C. (1983). Sources of indoor radon in houses: A review. Journal of the Air Pollution Control Association, 33(2), 105–109. DOI:10.1080/00022470.1983.10465550.
• 3. Ruggiero, L., Bigi, S., Ciotoli, G., Galli, G., Giustini,F., Lombardi, S., Lucchetti, C., Pizzino, L., Sciarra, A.,Sirianni, P., Tartarello, M. C., & Voltaggio, M. (2018).Relationships between geogenic radon potential and gamma ray maps with indoor radon levels at Caprarola municipality (central Italy). In GARMM – 14.International Workshop on the Geological Aspects of Radon Risk Mapping, 18–20 September 2018, Prague,Czech Republic. (extended abstract).
• 4. Tuccimei, P., Castelluccio, M., Soligo, M., & Moroni, M. (2009). Radon exhalation rates of building materials: experimental, analytical protocol and classification criteria. In D. N. Cornejo & J. L. Haro (Eds.), Building materials: Properties, performance and applications (pp. 259–273). Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science Publishers.
• 5. Lucchetti, C., Briganti, A., Castelluccio, M., Galli, G., Santilli, S., Soligo, M., & Tuccimei, P. (2019). Integrating radon and thoron flux data with gamma radiation mapping in radon-prone areas. The case of volcanic outcrops in a highly-urbanized city (Roma, Italy). J. Environ. Radioact., 202, 41–50. DOI:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.02.004.
• 6. Tuccimei, P., Moroni, M., & Norcia, D. (2006). Simultaneous determination of 222Rn and 220Rn exhalation rates from building materials used in Central Italy with accumulation chambers and a continuous solid state alpha detector: influence of particle size, humidity and precursors concentration. Appl. Radiat. Isot., 64(2), 254–263.
• 7. Wiegand, J. (2001). A guideline for the evaluation of the soil radon potential based on geogenic and anthropogenic parameters. Environ. Geol., 40, 949–963.
• 8. Scarciglia, F., Tuccimei, P., Vacca, A., Barca, D., Pulice, I., Salzano, R., & Soligo, M. (2011). Soil genesis, morphodynamic processes and chronological implications in two soil transects of SE Sardinia, Italy: traditional pedological study coupled with laser ablation ICP-MS and radionuclide analyses. Geoderma, 162, 39–64. DOI: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2011.01.004.
• 9. De Simone, G., Lucchetti, C., Galli, G., & Tuccimei,P. (2016). Correcting for H2O interference using electrostatic collection-based silicon detectors. J. Environ. Radioact., 162/163, 146–153. DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.05.021.
• 10. Tuccimei, P., Castelluccio, M., Moretti, S., Mollo, S., Vinciguerra, S., & Scarlato, P. (2011). Thermal enhancement of radon emission from rocks. Implications for laboratory experiments under increasing deformation. In B. Veress & J. Szigethy (Eds.), Horizons in earth science research (Vol. 4, Chapter 9, pp.247–256). Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science Publishers

Uwagi

Opracowanie rekordu ze środków MNiSW, umowa Nr 461252 w ramach programu "Społeczna odpowiedzialność nauki" - moduł: Popularyzacja nauki i promocja sportu (2020).