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Radon Hazard in Central Italy: Comparison among Areas with Different Geogenic Radon Potential

Author

Listed:
  • Francesca Giustini

    (National Research Council, Institute of Environmental Geology and Geoengineering, CNR-IGAG, 00015 Rome, Italy)

  • Livio Ruggiero

    (Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, 00143 Rome, Italy)

  • Alessandra Sciarra

    (Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, 00143 Rome, Italy)

  • Stan Eugene Beaubien

    (Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Sapienza-Università di Roma, DST-Sapienza, 00185 Rome, Italy)

  • Stefano Graziani

    (Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Sapienza-Università di Roma, DST-Sapienza, 00185 Rome, Italy)

  • Gianfranco Galli

    (Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, 00143 Rome, Italy)

  • Luca Pizzino

    (Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, 00143 Rome, Italy)

  • Maria Chiara Tartarello

    (Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Sapienza-Università di Roma, DST-Sapienza, 00185 Rome, Italy)

  • Carlo Lucchetti

    (Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Sapienza-Università di Roma, DST-Sapienza, 00185 Rome, Italy)

  • Pietro Sirianni

    (National Research Council, Institute of Environmental Geology and Geoengineering, CNR-IGAG, 00015 Rome, Italy)

  • Paola Tuccimei

    (Dipartimento di Scienze, Università di Roma Tre, 00154 Rome, Italy)

  • Mario Voltaggio

    (National Research Council, Institute of Environmental Geology and Geoengineering, CNR-IGAG, 00015 Rome, Italy)

  • Sabina Bigi

    (Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Sapienza-Università di Roma, DST-Sapienza, 00185 Rome, Italy)

  • Giancarlo Ciotoli

    (National Research Council, Institute of Environmental Geology and Geoengineering, CNR-IGAG, 00015 Rome, Italy
    Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, 00143 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

Radon ( 222 Rn) is a natural radioactive gas formed in rocks and soil by the decay of its parent nuclide (238-Uranium). The rate at which radon migrates to the surface, be it along faults or directly emanated from shallow soil, represents the Geogenic Radon Potential (GRP) of an area. Considering that the GRP is often linked to indoor radon risk levels, we have conducted multi-disciplinary research to: (i) define local GRPs and investigate their relationship with associated indoor Rn levels; (ii) evaluate inhaled radiation dosages and the associated risk to the inhabitants; and (iii) define radon priority areas (RPAs) as required by the Directive 2013/59/Euratom. In the framework of the EU-funded LIFE-Respire project, a large amount of data (radionuclide content, soil gas samples, terrestrial gamma, indoor radon) was collected from three municipalities located in different volcanic districts of the Lazio region (central Italy) that are characterised by low to high GRP. Results highlight the positive correlation between the radionuclide content of the outcropping rocks, the soil Rn concentrations and the presence of high indoor Rn values in areas with medium to high GRP. Data confirm that the Cimini–Vicani area has inhalation dosages that are higher than the reference value of 10 mSv/y.

Suggested Citation

  • Francesca Giustini & Livio Ruggiero & Alessandra Sciarra & Stan Eugene Beaubien & Stefano Graziani & Gianfranco Galli & Luca Pizzino & Maria Chiara Tartarello & Carlo Lucchetti & Pietro Sirianni & Pao, 2022. "Radon Hazard in Central Italy: Comparison among Areas with Different Geogenic Radon Potential," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-23, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:2:p:666-:d:720004
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alicia Fernández & Carlos Sainz & Santiago Celaya & Luis Quindós & Daniel Rábago & Ismael Fuente, 2021. "A New Methodology for Defining Radon Priority Areas in Spain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-16, February.
    2. Simona Mancini & Martins Vilnitis & Michele Guida, 2021. "A Novel Strategy for the Assessment of Radon Risk Based on Indicators," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-13, July.
    3. Maria Quarto & Mariagabriella Pugliese & Giuseppe La Verde & Filomena Loffredo & Vincenzo Roca, 2015. "Radon Exposure Assessment and Relative Effective Dose Estimation to Inhabitants of Puglia Region, South Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-10, November.
    4. Peter Bossew & Giorgia Cinelli & Giancarlo Ciotoli & Quentin G. Crowley & Marc De Cort & Javier Elío Medina & Valeria Gruber & Eric Petermann & Tore Tollefsen, 2020. "Development of a Geogenic Radon Hazard Index—Concept, History, Experiences," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-23, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Timofey Leshukov & Konstantin Legoshchin & Aleksey Larionov, 2023. "Radon Hazard of the Zhurinsky Fault for the Population in the Kuznetsk Coal Basin: Primary Results," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-14, December.
    2. Gaia Soldati & Maria Grazia Ciaccio & Antonio Piersanti & Valentina Cannelli & Gianfranco Galli, 2022. "Active Monitoring of Residential Radon in Rome: A Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-16, October.
    3. Miroslaw Janik, 2022. "Environmental Radioactivity Monitoring and Measurements: Radon and Thoron," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-5, July.

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