Radon metrology for use in climate change observation and radiation protection at the environmental level

Short Name: traceRadon, Project Number: 19ENV01

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can help locate the source of greenhouse gases

Image showing concept of radon danger

Radon gas is the main source of natural radiation exposure to the public and its environmental distribution must be known. It is emitted almost evenly from ice-free land allowing its use as a tracker for quantifying and pin-pointing the sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions using the Radon Tracer Method (RTM). Improved quantification measurements are required to locate Radon Priority Areas (RPA) and for validating GHG emission models.

 

The project has developed traceable measurements for low-level atmospheric radon along with a reference-standard radon monitor, with results validated using long-term, field-based inter-comparisons. For the first time, a standard methodology for the RTM has been developed together with a validated, high-resolution radon flux map. RPAs will also be identified which has never been attempted before due to a lack of quality data.

The results will support radiation protection measures and GHG emission models, leading to increased safety and a better identification of the sources of damaging pollutants.

 

Intercomparison of Radon Flux Monitors at Low and at High Radium Content Areas under Field Conditions
2022

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Development of 222Rn Emanation Sources with Integrated Quasi 2π Active Monitoring
2022

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Outdoor Radon as a Tool to Estimate Radon Priority Areas—A Literature Overview
2022

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Inter-comparison of commercial continuous radon monitors responses
2022

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

ANALYSIS OF THE RADON CONCENTRATIONS IN NATURAL MINERAL AND TAP WATER USING LUCAS CELLS TECHNIQUE
2022

Journal of Environmental Engineering and Landscape Management

New metrology for radon at the environmental level
2021

Measurement Science and Technology

IRSD raw alpha spectrum data for Rn-222 emanation determination
0

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

RadonDeconvolution: Version 1.0
0

Journal of Sensors and Sensor Systems

Participating EURAMET NMIs and DIs

BFKH (Hungary)

CMI (Czechia)

ENEA-INMRI (Italy)

IFIN-HH (Romania)

NPL (United Kingdom)

PTB (Germany)

VINS (Serbia)

Other Participants

Centralne Laboratorium Ochrony Radiologicznej (Poland)
IDEAS Science Korlátolt Felelősségű Társaság (Hungary)
INESC TEC - Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores, Tecnologia e Ciência (Portugal)
JRC - Joint Research Centre - European Commission (European Commission)
Lunds Universitet (Sweden)
Oesterreichische Agentur fuer Gesundheit und Ernaehrungssicherheit GmbH (Austria)
Státní ústav jaderné, chemické a biologické ochrany, v.v.i. (Czechia)
Universidad De Cantabria (Spain)
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (Spain)
Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (France)
University of Bristol (United Kingdom)

Information

Programme
EMPIR
Field
Environment
Status
completed
Call
2019
Duration
2020-2023
Project website