Abstract
Schools are a category of public buildings with a high radon exposure risk, due to their high occupancy factor. In Romania, the elaboration of a methodology for radon measurements in schools is a necessity imposed both by the European legislation and by the relatively high percentage (about 10%) of the mapped territory with a potential increased risk of exposure to the action of ionizing radiation emitted by radon. In order to optimize the design of a national survey aimed to evaluate radon exposure of children in Romanian schools, we conducted a pilot study in two schools in Cluj-Napoca, following the screening measurements carried out in 109 schools and kindergartens from five counties. The specific steps that must be followed were described, taking into account the international protocols and particularities of Romanian territory. The proposed approach could act as a guide for other large buildings and is implicit for the implementation of National Radon Action Plan, approved by HG no. 526/12 July 2018 in accordance with Council Directive 2013/59/EURATOM. The obtained results indicate that a high probability of annual radon concentration above the national reference level is to be expected in schools.
Highlights
It is well known that long-term exposure to radon and its decay products increase individual’s risk of developing lung cancer [1,2]
As a subset of the above-mentioned radon survey in Romanian schools performed in 109 schools, a pilot study was initiated in order to analyze the variability of radon concentration between two different schools in the same city, Cluj-Napoca
In order for accurate, consistent, and relevant radon measurements to be ensured in Romanian schools, a standardized measurement approach is required, combined with a larger study area
Summary
It is well known that long-term exposure to radon and its decay products increase individual’s risk of developing lung cancer [1,2]. According to the Directive 2013/59/EURATOM [2], the Member States are required to establish in the national legislation reference levels for the annual average of the radon concentration in the air of buildings that does not exceed 300 Bq/m3, both for existing and new dwellings, workplaces, and buildings with public access. One of the items that have to be considered by the EU Member States in preparing its national action plan to address long-term risks from radon exposures, included in Annex XVIII (paragraph 3) is “identification of types of workplaces and buildings with public access, such as schools, underground workplaces, and those in certain areas, where measurements are required, on the basis of a risk assessment, considering for instance occupancy hours” [2]. These steps would lead to facilitating implementation of actions defined by NRAP through the recommendation of a protocol for radon measurements in schools
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