The radon anomaly of Porcheresse (Ardennes, Belgium). A case study

From a very high radon concentration in a dwelling of the village of Porcheresse, one discusses on of the significance of the numerous radon indoor anomalies detected in the southern part of Belgium

Effect of Thermal Annealing on the Sensitivity of Makrofol-DE Polycarbonate

Solid state nuclear track detectors have been applied in different studies including nuclear physics, particle physics, archaeology etc. Makrofol, a particular group of thermoplastic polymers, is used for radon detection. High background track numbers in the foils cause big uncertainties for places where the radon concentrations are quite low. Therefore, it is of great importance to lower the background track signal as much as possible, without reducing the sensitivity of the foils. The present study reports track density and sensitivity of Makrofol-DE after thermal annealing. The unexposed foils were heated at temperatures ranging from 110C to 140C for 10 min with the aim of observing changes in the number of background tracks. As a result a reduction in the background track density was observed. In order to observe the change in the sensitivity, pre-heated and unheated foils were exposed to alpha radiation in a radon chamber. At the temperatures of 110, 120, and 130°C, the track density in the heated and unheated exposed foils is quite similar. An increase was observed in the track density in heated exposed foils at 140C

Measurement of Radon Level in Dwellings of the Yıldırım County in Bursa

It was well known that inhalation of high levels of radon can lead to lung cancer. Indoor radon concentration measurements were carried out in randomly selected 18 dwellings of Yıldırım county in Bursa, Turkey using Makrofol-DE Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors. The results of the radon measurements ranged from 13 to 98 Bq $m^{-3}$, with as 42 Bq $m^{-3}$ average value. The range of annual effective dose was between 0.33 and 2.47 mSv $y^{-1}$

ACTA PHYSICA POLONICA A Eect of Thermal Annealing on the Sensitivity of Makrofol-DE Polycarbonate

Solid state nuclear track detectors have been applied in dierent studies including nuclear physics, particle physics, archaeology etc. Makrofol, a particular group of thermoplastic polymers, is used for radon detection. High background track numbers in the foils cause big uncertainties for places where the radon concentrations are quite low. Therefore, it is of great importance to lower the background track signal as much as possible, without reducing the sensitivity of the foils. The present study reports track density and sensitivity of Makrofol-DE after thermal annealing. The unexposed foils were heated at temperatures ranging from 110 • C to 140 • C for 10 min with the aim of observing changes in the number of background tracks. As a result a reduction in the background track density was observed. In order to observe the change in the sensitivity, pre-heated and unheated foils were exposed to alpha radiation in a radon chamber. At the temperatures of 110, 120, and 130 • C, the track density in the heated and unheated exposed foils is quite similar. An increase was observed in the track density in heated exposed foils at 140 • C

Risk management strategies for the radon paradox in radiation protection

Indoor radon is recognised as being the most important radiation burden for the general public. In Belgium, as in many other countries, exposure levels giving rise to yearly risks of more than 10(-2) have been found. This latter value is normally considered unacceptable for the public. Moreover, an important fraction of the population lives in houses with radon levels of more than 400 Bq.m(-3), representing a risk level of 10(-3) per year or more. A level of this order is the limit for authorised and regulated activities at work. Prevention and intervention opportunities exist for these situations. The dose reduction opportunities are limited, but higher than the total collective dose in all nuclear activities. The analysis of radiation protection approaches, communication and decision-making for radon, compared to nuclear industrial activities shows incoherence at different levels. As a first attempt to develop a rational and coherent approach, cost-benefit analysis was applied to radon. Four optimisation scenarios were developed: three about remediation and one about prevention. Referring to the ct values applied by radiation protection authorities in France, Sweden and the Netherlands, the different scenarios are found to be highly justified. They all represent well-spent money for public hearth. Furthermore, in order to select priorities for the governmental approach about radon, multi-attribute analysis was applied. Cost, detriment and perception were used as criteria. As potential government strategy the following alternatives were put forward: pay no attention at all; provide information; organise measuring and information campaigns, offer technical and financial sustenance for remediation; draw up specific regulations

RADON AND LUNG-CANCER - PROTOCOL AND PROCEDURES OF THE MULTICENTER STUDIES IN THE ARDENNES-EIFEL REGION, BRITTANY AND THE MASSIF-CENTRAL REGION

The results of the small case-control studies performed in a number of countries prove the feasibility of this type of technique in qualifying the risk of indoor radon. However, as the final purpose is the quantification of this risk, a study on a much larger scale is necessary to arrive at results with enough statistical significance and power. Therefore, as part of a European coordinated project, the Ardennes-Eifel study was set up. In this project the study area coincides more or less with a geological zone, situated partly in France, Belgium, Luxemburg and Germany. In a first phase a common protocol was worked out, dealing with general items as the selection of cases and (hospital/community) controls the residential criteria for inclusion in the study and the specifications of the radon measurements. Much attention was given to the disease for the hospital controls and a list of ineligible diseases most strongly related to tobacco was agreed upon. A common core questionnaire is used, including items such as residential history since birth, occupational history, exposure to passive smoke (for non-smokers and occasional smokers) and educational attainment of the partner. Each country is also free to include additional items of its own. In France, this case-control study is extended to the granitic region of Brittany and in a second period to the region of Massif Central. In these studies as well as in the national German study on radon and lung cancer, a protocol in all points comparable to that of the Ardennes study is used

Alleviating ecological bias in linking radon exposure to health outcomes.

&lt;p&gt;Background&lt;/p&gt;</p

Alleviating ecological bias in linking radon exposure to acute childhood leukaemia.

&lt;p&gt;Background&lt;/p&gt;</p