Indagine sul Rischio Radon in ambiente di lavoro in tre aree della Provincia di Ancona individuate mediante selezione geologica

Abstract

Radon (222Rn) is a natural radioactive gas produced by decay of Radium-226, which tends to disperse in open air or to concentrate in confined environments, constituting in this case a risk to human health. The effects of radon have been described, documented and attested by the international scientific community and recognized as the second leading cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking. At national level, worker exposure is regulated by Legislative Decree 241/00 which defines the criteria for managing the activity concentration of indoor radon gas in underground workplaces. Since the studies on the evaluation of areas with high probability of radon risk agree that the geological characteristics (main surfacing lithotypes and presence of faults and/or fracturing systems) are one of the most important factors for predicting high concentrations of the radon, a survey was carried out to measure the radon levels at workplaces of three areas in the province of Ancona with the above characteristics. The measurement methods used and the technical-construction parameters taken into consideration for the monitored buildings are also described. The distribution of the measured values ​​was lognormal, with a geometric mean of 155 Bq∙m-3 and a geometric standard deviation of 2.2 Bq∙m-3. In these 3 areas, the action level of 500 Bq∙m-3, set by Italian legislation was exceeded in one case while the reference level of 300 Bq∙m-3, set by the European Directive 2013/59/Euratom being implemented in Italy, was exceeded in three cases.