Experience from indoor radon-daughter limitation schemes in Sweden

Abstract

Sweden introduced limits and gave recommendations for decreasing the indoor radon daughter concentrations in 1980. The resulting experiences are summarized. From 1979 to 1987, measurements were carried out by the local authorities in about 58 000 out of 3.9 million homes in Sweden, and 5300 homes were found to have levels exceeding the limit for existing houses, or 400 Bq/m 3 of equilibrium equivalent concentration of radon (EER). This may be about 13% of the estimated 40 000 homes with levels exceeding 400 Bq/m 3. Very high levels, up to 28 000 Bq/m 3, have been found. According to the local authorities, in one third of the homes found with levels exceeding the limit (1921 homes) certain reconstruction and other measures have been taken in order to decrease the levels. In reality, measures have been carried out in more houses. The methods depend on the radon source. The average reductions found for respective methods are reported. The local authorities can require a check of the radon daughter concentrations in newly built houses when they suspect that the concentrations exceed the limit of 70 Bq/m 3. In 11% of the measured homes built during 1981 to 1985, the levels were above the limit for newly built houses. In 1.4% of these houses, the limit for existing houses, 400 Bq/m 3, had been exceeded. The strategy to decrease both the collective dose to the population and the individual dose is discussed.