Two significant experiences related to radon in a high risk area in Spain

• Autorzy: Sainz C. , Gutierrez-Villanueva J. -L. , Fuente I. , Quindos L. , Soto J. , Arteche J. -L. , Quindos Poncela L. S.
• Konferencja: Proceedings of the International Conference "Radon in Environment" 10-14 May 2009, Zakopane Poland
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

Radon is a natural radioactive gas and it is currently accepted as being responsible for lung cancer in some cases. One of the most important sources of indoor radon is from the soil. The radium content of soil is also a very important factor to be taken into account. The natural radiation map of Spain (MARNA) classifies the country into three regions with different levels of natural gamma radiation. There are some areas in Spain with high levels of natural radiation one of those is the province of Salamanca. Western part of this province presents a population of 20 000 inhabitants and 7% of the houses have an indoor radon concentration above 400 Bqźm–3. In this high risk area, the village of Villar de la Yegua is of special interest: 11% of the houses in this village have an indoor radon level below 400 Bqźm–3, 89 per cent have above 400 Bqźm–3 and 71 per cent of the houses have a radon concentration above 1000 Bqźm–3. An old uranium mine site close to this village has been selected for the construction of an experimental pilot house. It is a two story house located in the place with a very high 226Ra concentration in soil. Radon in soil at 1 m depth has an average level of 250 kBqźm–3. We present in this work the characteristics of the experimental unit located in this high risk area and we describe the zone where one of the Spanish villages with the highest radon concentration is located. This is a very interesting place for further research on indoor radon concentration and it is a unique opportunity of testing radon monitors, radon passive detectors and remedial actions for the mitigation of radon in real conditions. It is common to carry out intercomparison exercises under laboratory conditions. Nonetheless, it is not so common to develop these exercises in real conditions as we have in the experimental unit we present here. We offer in this work the possibility for other research groups of testing their equipments in this unit and we also show the evolution of the works carried out in the locality of Villar de la Yegua.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

radon; workplace; mitigation; pilot house

• Wydawca: Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology
• Czasopismo: Nukleonika
• Rocznik: 2010
• Tom: Vol. 55, No. 4
• Strony: 513--518
• Opis fizyczny: Bibliogr. 9 poz., rys.

Twórcy

autor

Sainz C.

autor

Gutierrez-Villanueva J. -L.

autor

Fuente I.

autor

Quindos L.

autor

Soto J.

autor

Arteche J. -L.

autor

Quindos Poncela L. S.

• RADON Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cantabria, c/Cardenal Herrera Oria s/n, 39011 Santander, Spain, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone],

Bibliografia

• 1. Commission Recommendation of 21 February 1990 on the protection of the public against indoor exposure to radon (1990) 90/143/EURATOM
• 2. Darby S, Hill D, Deo H et al. (2006) Residential radon and lung cancer – detailed results of a collaborative analysis of individual data on 7148 persons with lung cancer and 14 208 persons without lung cancer from 13 epidemiologic studies in Europe. Scand J Work, Environ Health 32;1:1–84
• 3. Howarth CB, Miles JCH (2008) Validation scheme for organizations making measurements of radon in dwellings: 2008 Revision. Health Protection Agency, UK
• 4. ICRP (1994) Protection against radon-222 at home and at work. International Commission on Radiological Protection
• 5. NTP 533 (2004) Radon and its health effects. SpanishMinistry of Labour and Social Affairs, National Institute ,of Safety and Hygiene in the Workplace
• 6. Quindos Poncela LS, Fernandez PL, Gomez ArozamenaJ et al. (2004) Natural gamma radiation map(MARNA) and indoor radon levels in Spain. Environ Int 29:1091–1096
• 7. Quindos Poncela LS, Fernandez PL, Sainz C, Gomez J, Matarranz JL, Suarez Mahou E (2005) The Spanishexperience on HBRA. Int Congress Series 1276:50–53
• 8. Royal Decree 783/2001 (2001) Regulation on health ,protection against ionizing radiation (in Spanish)
• 9.Sainz C, Quindos LS, Fernandez PL et al. (2007) High ,background radiation areas: the case of Villar de la Yegua (Spain). Radiat Prot Dosim 125:565–567