Soil Gas Radon Concentration Research Articles

Mapping radon hazard areas using 238U measurements and geological units: a study in a high background radiation city of China.

In order to identify radon-prone areas and evaluate radon risk level, a soil gas radon survey combined with gamma-ray spectrometry measurements was carried out in Shenzhen City, south China. Meanwhile, the statistical analysis was applied to evaluate the distribution of measured results. This paper presents the methodology of the radon risk assessment. A radon risk map was accomplished based on a combination of soil gas radon concentration (RC), soil air permeability (Perm.) and uranium (238U) concentration. The results showed that the distribution of soil gas RC and radon-prone areas were closely related to geologic distribution of uranium (238U) and local lithology.

Soil gas radon mapping of Muzaffarabad city, Pakistan

Soil-based radon investigations are of value in correlating radon production and its transportation into buildings through the processes of convection and diffusion. Such studies can help in identifying land areas that pose special concerns. We present preliminary results of soil radon gas measurements at 60 different locations in an attempt to map out the geohazard zone of the city of Muzaffarabad. The seismic geohazard microzonation for the area includes five microzones based on different hazard parameters: a very high hazard zone, a high hazard zone, a moderate hazard zone, a low hazard zone, and a safe zone. Measurements were taken with an active radon monitoring system at the depths of 30, 40, 50, and 60 cm below the ground surface. The results obtained were explained by the lithology of the area. Average soil radon gas concentrations were correlated with the depth from the ground surface and indoor radon values for the study area. No significant correlation was found between soil radon gas and meteorological parameters, however soil radon gas increases as the depth from the surface of the ground grows. The results showed a linear relation between soil radon concentrations with depth from ground surface (R2 = 0.9577). The minimum soil radon concentration (68.5 Bq/m3) was found at a depth of 30 cm in the very high hazard zone, the maximum value (53.300 Bq/m3) at a depth of 60 cm in the seismically safe zone. Measured soil gas radon concentrations at depths of 30, 40, 50, and 60 cm were mapped for high, moderate, and low radon concentrations. Elevated soil radon gas concentrations were found in the safe zone, otherwise considered to be suitable for any type of construction.

Estimation of annual effective dose from radon concentration along Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) in Garhwal Himalaya

Indoor radon and thoron concentration plays a vital role in the total effective dose in the indoor environments. In the present study, the measurement of indoor radon, soil gas radon concentration and the drinking water radon concentration was carried out in Rajpur area of Dehradun valley located near by the geological fault line named Main Boundary Thrust (MBT). The measurement was carried out using RAD-7, a solid state detector with its special accessory. The indoor radon concentration varies from 35 to 150 Bqm−3 with an average value of 85 Bqm−3. The soil-gas radon concentration varies from 2 to 12.3 kBqm−3 with an average value of 6.5 kBqm−3. Radon concentration in water samples varies from 1.7 to 57.7 kBqm−3 with an average value of 20 kBqm−3. These results are helpful for estimation of annual effective dose, ingestion dose and inhalation doses. The annual effective dose varies from 0.88 to 3.78 mSvy−1 with an average value of 2.13 mSvy−1. The annual ingestion dose due to drinking water was found to vary from 0.36 to 7.91 mSvy−1 with an average value of 3.92 mSvy−1. The annual inhalation dose was found to vary from 0.0042 to 0.1454 mSvy−1 with an average of 0.0504 mSvy−1.

The influence of rock contacts on the soil gas radon concentration and gamma dose rate

The influence of rock contacts on the soil gas radon concentration and gamma dose rate

Parameter Ranking System of Indoor Radon Concentration in South Korea, Case Studies: Dokdo Island, Yang Pyeong and Nae Gi

Indoor Radon concentration (IRC) is among the emerging environmental and health issues in Republic of Korea. Due to lack of epidemiological studies and insufficient public awareness about Radon, effective parameter ranking system is required to establish protocols for future field sampling and settlement construction. This research propose the IRC parameter ranking system based on field measurements and laboratory experiments. Dokdo Island, Yang Pyeong and Nae Gi were selected as the case studies in South Korea. The Radon transport equations and statistical analyses are modelled with Simulink and Matlab. IRC model accounts for exhalation of Radon from soil, building material and outdoor air and also considers the major mitigation methods like ventilation, air cleaners and filtration. The PAWN sensitivity analysis method has been applied to determine the sensitivity of each parameter. The results indicates that soil gas radon concentration, radium concentration, emanation coefficient and ventilation rate have the most dominant role on IRC. Based on these results, field sampling patterns and indoor mitigation strategies can be established for restricted access areas and probabilistic studies.

Soil gas radon and thoron measurements in some Venezuelan oilfields

Radon and thoron concentrations in soil gas were studied in some Venezuelan oilfields using passive and active methods. In some cases, investigations indicated a strong correlation between oil production areas and the intensity of radon signals, while in others a decrease in radon concentration was observed. This behavior was explained on the basis of different geological structures of the associated reservoir traps. Geological faults associated with petroleum systems were well recognized by the radon and thoron anomalies. Possible conduits and sources responsible for the occurrence of natural gas in a river and in an aquifer were identified and localized.

An Investigation of Factors Influencing Indoor Radon Concentrations in Dwellings of Northern Rajasthan, India

Abstract An effort has been made to find possible relationships of indoor radon levels with building construction materials, ventilation condition of dwellings and soil gas radon levels. Indoor radon measurements were made using LR-115 type II cellulose nitrate films and the concentrations were estimated by knowing the track density of films through optical microscope. Soil gas radon levels were measured using RAD7, an electronic radon detector manufactured by Durridge Company, USA. This study sheds light on the seasonal indoor radon activities in Rajasthan dwellings. Maximum values of the indoor radon concentration were observed during the winter and minimum during the summer season. Results show that ventilation rate is inversely proportional to radon level. Highest level of indoor radon concentration was found in the mud type dwellings compared with dwellings made of concrete, cement and marble. A positive correlation (R2 = 0.45) between indoor radon and soil gas radon concentration was observed. A weak positive correlation (R2 = 0.22) was observed between soil gas radon concentration and radium content in soil. Indoor radon concentration was found to be associated with the presence of radon concentration in local soil, building material used for roof, floor and walls, type of ventilation conditions and presence of cracks on the walls/floor. Positive correlation between indoor and soil gas radon concentration suggest the large contribution of local soil towards indoor radon.

Identifications and removal of diurnal and semidiurnal variations in radon time series data of Hsinhua monitoring station in SW Taiwan using singular spectrum analysis

Over the past three decades, anomalous temporal changes in radon concentrations have been reported in relation to earthquake occurrences. However, radon anomalies in all cases are not only controlled by seismic activity, but also by meteorological parameters which make isolation of earthquake precursory signals complicated. In the present study, characteristics of temporal variability of soil gas radon concentrations at the Hsinhua monitoring station, southern Taiwan, have been examined using singular spectrum analysis (SSA). In order to make continuity and regularity of the data before applying the SSA, the radon data were carefully edited for gaps and discontinuous jumps following intervals of malfunctioning of equipments. Digital filter has been applied in eliminating the long-term trend in the data and retains variations of <30 days. The radon changes exhibit dominant daily variations, which are controlled by atmospheric temperature inducted evaporation in surface water saturated soil (capping effect). The causal relationship is marked by a clear phase lag of 2–3 h in the sense that peak in the daily variation of radon succeeds the peak in temperature. Aperiodic variations in soil radon intensity in the range of 2–10 days are negatively correlated with temperature, while positively correlated with pressure. However, the negative correlation of the soil radon with temperature is found to be pseudo-effect arising due to interrelation between temperature and pressure.

Soil features and indoor radon concentration prediction: radon in soil gas, pedology, permeability and 226Ra content.

This work aims at relating some physicochemical features of soils and their use as a tool for prediction of indoor radon concentrations of the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte (RMBH), Minas Gerais, Brazil. The measurements of soil gas radon concentrations were performed by using an AlphaGUARD monitor. The (226)Ra content analysis was performed by gamma spectrometry (high pure germanium) and permeabilities were performed by using the RADON-JOK permeameter. The GEORP indicator and soil radon index (RI) were also calculated. Approximately 53 % of the Perferric Red Latosols measurement site could be classified as 'high risk' (Swedish criteria). The Litholic Neosols presented the lowest radon concentration mean in soil gas. The Perferric Red Latosols presented significantly high radon concentration mean in soil gas (60.6 ± 8.7 kBq m(-3)), high indoor radon concentration, high RI, (226)Ra content and GEORP. The preliminary results may indicate an influence of iron formations present very close to the Perferric Red Latosols in the retention of uranium minerals.

Effect of soil moisture on seasonal variation in indoor radon concentration: modelling and measurements in 326 Finnish houses.

The effect of soil moisture on seasonal variation in soil air and indoor radon is studied. A brief review of the theory of the effect of soil moisture on soil air radon has been presented. The theoretical estimates, together with soil moisture measurements over a period of 10 y, indicate that variation in soil moisture evidently is an important factor affecting the seasonal variation in soil air radon concentration. Partitioning of radon gas between the water and air fractions of soil pores is the main factor increasing soil air radon concentration. On two example test sites, the relative standard deviation of the calculated monthly average soil air radon concentration was 17 and 26%. Increased soil moisture in autumn and spring, after the snowmelt, increases soil gas radon concentrations by 10-20 %. In February and March, the soil gas radon concentration is in its minimum. Soil temperature is also an important factor. High soil temperature in summer increased the calculated soil gas radon concentration by 14%, compared with winter values. The monthly indoor radon measurements over period of 1 y in 326 Finnish houses are presented and compared with the modelling results. The model takes into account radon entry, climate and air exchange. The measured radon concentrations in autumn and spring were higher than expected and it can be explained by the seasonal variation in the soil moisture. The variation in soil moisture is a potential factor affecting markedly to the high year-to-year variation in the annual or seasonal average radon concentrations, observed in many radon studies.

Radon concentration in soil gas and its correlations with pedologies, permeabilities and 226Ra content in the soil of the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte – RMBH, Brazil

Abstract The radon concentration in soil gas is directly dependent on the geological characteristics of the area, such as lithology, pedology and on geochemicals, physicals and mineralogicals parameters of the soil. This paper looks for correlations between radon concentrations in soil gas and its soil permeability, 238U, 232Th and 226Ra contents in the soil groups classified by pedologies of Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte (RMBH), Minas Gerais, Brazil. The soil gas radon concentrations were determined by using an AlphaGUARD® monitor at about 150 measurement points. In soil samples of the same measurement points, the concentrations of 226Ra were determined by gamma spectrometry (HPGe), and 238U and 232Th by ICP-MS. The soil permeabilities were determined by using the RADON-JOK® permeameter. The mean concentrations of radon in soil gas ranged from 13.6±3.0 kBq m−3 for Litholic Neosols until 60.6±8.7 kBq m−3 for Perferric Red Latosols. The mean of 226Ra activity concentrations presented variation of 12.4±2.5 Bq kg−1 for Litholic Neosols until 50.3±13 Bq kg−1 for Perferric Red Latosols. Approximately 40% of the soils presented high permeability. The areas of different pedologies were classified by Soil Radon Index (SRI), determined by the soil gas radon concentration and permeability. Approximately 53% of the Perferric Red Latosols measurement site could be classified as High Risk (Swedish criteria). The preliminary results may indicate an influence of iron formations present very close to the Perferric Red Latosols in the retention of uranium minerals, and hence an increase in the concentration of radon and radium, whereas the series are in equilibrium in the environment.

Dependence of radon emanation of soil on lithology

In soil samples collected from 58 points of 7 different lithological units that appear most often in Slovenia, emanation fraction of 222Rn and porosity have been determined. Emanation fraction ranged from 0.010 to 0.547 and varied substantially among lithological units, as well as within the same lithological unit. The highest average value was found in soil over sea and lake deposits (0.340) and the lowest, over metamorphic rocks (0.029). Based on the data measured, radon concentration in soil gas was calculated and compared with the values obtained previously at the same points by exposing solid state nuclear track detectors.

Using Natural Radon as a Tracer of Gasoline Contamination

Radon concentration in soil gas can be employed to trace the presence of gasolinecontamination because it is very soluble in hydrocarbons. Radon available in the soil pores accumulates in the contaminated volume, producing a local deficit at shallow depth that can be easily mapped. The suitability of this method is here checked by field simulation of a gasoline spill and by laboratory experiments where known amounts of a volcanic tuff contaminated with increasing gasoline show proportional drops of radon exhalation rates.

Tracing NAPLs contamination in the vadose zone using soil radon

Frequent spills of Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids (NAPLs), such as petroleum products or chlorinated solvents, occur all around the world contaminating the soil vadose zone or the aquifer. In order to trace the presence of these substances, radon concentration in soil gas can be employed because of its high solubility in NAPLs. Radon available in the soil pores accumulates in the NAPLs producing a local decrease of its concentration in the vicinity of contaminated areas. Thus radon minima in the vadose zone can be used to localize NAPL plumes indirectly.The suitability of this method is here checked by laboratory simulation of a gasoline spill within a known volume of soil. Radon activity concentration strongly drops down right after the injection of gasoline and progressively increases in the following days. This trend is compared with data from a simultaneous experiment carried out on a volume of the same soil, not contaminated by NAPL.Finally, an example of field measurements within a site affected by NAPL contamination is documented. Mapping of soil radon concentration at 80 cm depth shows an area where radon deficit is evident. This region is aligned along the directions of the groundwater flow induced by pumping for safety operation of the plant. Radon negative anomalies are not due to low gas permeability and are not correlated with soil CO2. The comparison of soil gas data with those from nearby background areas confirm the soundness of premises.

Soil gas radon assessment and development of a radon risk map in Bolsena, Central Italy.

Vulsini Volcanic district in Northern Latium (Central Italy) is characterized by high natural radiation background resulting from the high concentrations of uranium, thorium and potassium in the volcanic products. In order to estimate the radon radiation risk, a series of soil gas radon measurements were carried out in Bolsena, the principal urban settlement in this area NE of Rome. Soil gas radon concentration ranges between 7 and 176 kBq/m3 indicating a large degree of variability in the NORM content and behavior of the parent soil material related in particular to the occurrence of two different lithologies. Soil gas radon mapping confirmed the existence of two different areas: one along the shoreline of the Bolsena lake, characterized by low soil radon level, due to a prevailing alluvial lithology; another close to the Bolsena village with high soil radon level due to the presence of the high radioactive volcanic rocks of the Vulsini volcanic district. Radon risk assessment, based on soil gas radon and permeability data, results in a map where the alluvial area is characterized by a probability to be an area with high Radon Index lower than 20 %, while probabilities higher than 30 % and also above 50 % are found close to the Bolsena village.

Measurement of soil-gas radon in some areas of northern Rajasthan, India

The health hazards of the radioactive gas radon on general public are well known. In order to understand the level and distribution of 222Rn concentrations in soil-gas in Sri Ganganagar district of Rajasthan, a 222Rn survey was carried out for the first time using RAD7, an electronic radon detector manufactured by Durridge Company (USA), at different locations covering a total area of 10,978 km 2, having a population of approximately 20 lakh. The measurement of 222Rn concentration in soil-gas was carried out at four different depths (10, 40, 70, and 100 cm). The radon concentration in soil-gas for 10, 40, 70, and 100 cm depths ranged from 0.09–4.25, 0.15–6.30, 0.50–9.18, and 0.72–10.40 kBq m −3, respectively. The minimum value of radon concentration is observed in 33 GB village at 10 cm depth and maximum for Mohanpura village at 100 cm depth. As expected, our data show an increase of soil-gas radon concentration levels with depth. The present results are compared with the available radon data from other studies.

Identification and mapping of radon-prone areas in Croatia-preliminary results for Lika-Senj and the southern part of Karlovac counties.

Long-term indoor radon measurements performed by LR 115 track etched detectors in Croatian homes during 2003-04 showed that the arithmetic means of radon concentrations in Lika-Senj and the southern part of Karlovac counties were three times higher (198 Bq m(-3)) than in houses at national level (68 Bq m(-3)). Recently, indoor radon measurements in randomly selected houses were investigated. The obtained values in these new measurements have confirmed the values obtained 10 y ago (the average radon value in 225 investigated houses in this area is 223 Bq m(-3)). Radon concentrations in soil gas were measured in September and October 2012 and 2013 with the AlphaGUARD measuring system. Areas with both elevated indoor radon levels and radon in soil gas were identified (some micro locations in Korenica, Ličko Lešće, Generalski Stol, Slunj and Ogulin) and visually presented in the form of maps using the inverse distance weighting approach.

Analysis of problems and failures in the measurement of soil-gas radon concentration

Long-term experience in the field of soil-gas radon concentration measurements allows to describe and explain the most frequent causes of failures, which can appear in practice when various types of measurement methods and soil-gas sampling techniques are used. The concept of minimal sampling depth, which depends on the volume of the soil-gas sample and on the soil properties, is shown in detail. Consideration of minimal sampling depth at the time of measurement planning allows to avoid the most common mistakes. The ways how to identify influencing parameters, how to avoid a dilution of soil-gas samples by the atmospheric air, as well as how to recognise inappropriate sampling methods are discussed.

Radon as a natural tracer for gas transport within uranium waste rock piles.

Acid mine drainage (AMD) has been identified as the main cause for outflow of acid water and radioactive/non-radioactive contaminants. AMD encompasses pyrites oxidation when water and oxygen are available. AMD was identified in uranium waste rock piles (WRPs) of Indústrias Nucleares do Brasil-Caldas facility (Brazilian uranium mine), resulting in high costs for water treatment. AMD reduction is the main challenge, and scientific investigation has been conducted to understand oxygen and water transportation within WRPs, where 222Rn is used as natural tracer for oxygen transportation. The study consists of soil radon gas mapping in the top layer of WRP4 using active soil gas pumping, radon adsorption in active charcoal and 222Rn determination using high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry. A sampling network of 71 points was built where samples were collected at a depth of 40 cm. Soil radon gas concentration ranged from 33.7 to 1484.2 kBq m(-3) with mean concentration of 320.7±263.3 kBq m(-3).

Mapping the geogenic radon potential: methodology and spatial analysis for central Hungary

A detailed geogenic radon potential (GRP) mapping based on field soil gas radon and soil gas permeability measurements was carried out in this study. A conventional continuous variable approach was used in this study for GRP determination and to test its applicability to the selected area of Hungary. Spatial pattern of soil gas radon concentration, soil permeability and GRP and the relationship between geological formations and these parameters were studied by performing detailed spatial analysis.Exploratory data analysis revealed that higher soil gas radon activity concentration and GRP characterizes the mountains and hills than the plains. The highest values were found in the proluvial–deluvial sediments, rock debris on the downhill slopes eroded from hills. Among the Quaternary sediments, which characterize the study area, the fluvial sediment has the highest values, which are also located in the hilly areas. The lowest values were found in the plain areas covered by drift sand, fluvioeolic sand, fluvial sand and loess. As a conclusion, radon is related to the sediment cycle in the study area.A geogenic radon risk map was created, which assists human health risk assessment and risk reduction since it indicates the potential of the source of indoor radon. The map shows that low and medium geogenic radon potential characterizes the study area in central Hungary. High risk occurs only locally. The results reveal that Quaternary sediments are inhomogeneous from a radon point of view, fluvial sediment has medium GRP, whereas the other rock formations such as drift sand, fluioeolic sand, fluvial sand and loess, found in the study area, have low GRP.