Abstract
In a very early stage of implementation of a comprehensive experimental campaign for indoor radon assessment, a pre-evaluation selection of the variables that play a leading role in influencing expected results must be insightfully assessed. Hence, a practical methodology for variable selection based on an analysis of historic data plays a key role concerning radon potential assessment. Given the circumstances, this work is focused on the design of a qualitative pre-diagnosis model for the evaluation of radon potential in indoor environments, for different energy efficiency scenarios, by considering a set of relevant variables carefully selected to characterize occupants’ risk exposure. A prior survey was done to identify all relevant characteristics that most affect Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), mainly concerning local geology, built environment performance, and occupancy schedules. The selected parameters will be afterward weighted and combined into performance indicators through an evidence-based literature review. In the current early stage, the requirements to drive the software development are presented, together with a software architecture proposal. Finally, it is expected that this pre-diagnosis model will allow a more refined sample selection for indoor radon assessment, by choosing the most susceptible variables that influence radon potential in a given scenario.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Andersen CE, Raaschou-Nielsen O, Andersen HP, Lind M, Gravesen P, Thomsen BL (2007) Prediction of 222Rn in Danish dwellings using geology and house construction information from central databases. Radiat Protect Dosim 123:83–94
Azevedo R, Silva JP, Lopes N, Curado A, Lopes SI (2021) Short-term indoor radon gas assessment in granitic public buildings: a multi-parameter approach. In: Advances in science, technology & innovation. Springer, Cham, pp 415-418
Barros N, Steck DJ, Field WR (2016) Utility of short-term basement screening radon measurements to predict year-long residential radon concentrations on upper floors. Radiat Protect Dosim 171(3):405–413
Barros-Dios JM, Ruano-Ravina A, Gastelu-Iturri J, Figueiras A (2007) Factors underlying residential radon concentration: results from Galicia, Spain. Environ Res 103(2):185–190
Cerqueiro-Pequeño J, Comesaña-Campos A, Casal-Guisande M, Bouza-Rodríguez J-B (2021) Design and development of a new methodology based on expert systems applied to the prevention of indoor radon gas exposition risks. Int J Environ Res Public Health 18(1):269
Collignan B, Le Ponner E, Mandin C (2016) Relationships between indoor radon concentrations, thermal retrofit and dwelling characteristics. J Environ Radioact 165:124–30
Cortina D, Durán I, Llerena JJ (2008) Measurements of indoor radon concentrations in the Santiago de Compostela Area. J Environ Radioact 99:1583–1588
Curado A, Lopes SI, Antão A (2020) On the relation of geology, natural ventilation and indoor radon concentration: the Northern Portugal case study. In: Comunicações Geológicas, vol 107. LNEG, São Mamede de Infesta, pp 31–41
Groves-Kirkby CJ, Crockett RGM, Denman AR, Phillips PS (2015) A critical analysis of climatic influences on indoor radon concentrations: implications for seasonal correction. J Environ Radioact 148:16–26
Hahn EJ, Gokun Y, Andrews WM, Overfield BL, Robertson H, Wiggins A (2015) Radon potential, geologic formations, and lung cancer risk. Prev Med Rep 2:342–346
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) (2019) Design and conduct of indoor radon surveys. In: Safety reports series, no. 98. International Atomic Energy Agency Vienna International Centre, Vienna, pp 1–128
Martins LMO, Gomes MEP, Neves LJPF, Pereira AJSC (2013) The influence of geological factors on radon risk in groundwater and dwellings in the region of Amarante (Northern Portugal). Environ Earth Sci 68:733–740
Martins LMO, Gomes MEP, Teixeira RJS, Pereira AJSC, Neves LJPF (2016) Indoor radon risk associated to post-tectonic biotite granites from Vila Pouca de Aguiar Pluton, Northern Portugal. Ecotoxicol Environ Safety 133:164–175
McGrath JA, Byrne MA (2021) An approach to predicting indoor radon concentration based on depressurization measurements. Indoor Built Environ 30(8):1042–1050. https://doi.org/10.1177/1420326X20924747
Otton JK (1992) The geology of radon. In: General interest publication, USGS Publications Warehouse, United States
Soltani-Nabipour J, Khorshidi A, Sadeghi F (2019) Constructing environmental radon gas detector and measuring concentration in residential buildings. In: Physics of particles and nuclei letters, vol 16. Springer Nature, Berlin, pp 789–795
Steck DJ, Field RW, Lynch CF (1999) Exposure to atmospheric radon. Environ Health Perspect 107(2):123–127
World Health Organization (WHO) (2009) WHO handbook on indoor radon: a public health perspective. World Health Organization, Geneva
Acknowledgements
This research is a result of the project TECH—Technology, Environment, Creativity and Health, Norte-01-0145-FEDER-000043, supported by Norte Portugal Regional Operational Program (NORTE 2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). L.J.R.N. was supported by proMetheus, Research Unit on Energy, Materials and Environment for Sustainability—UIDP/05975/2020, funded by national funds through FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia. António Curado co-authored this work within the scope of the project proMetheus—Research Unit on Materials, Energy and Environment for Sustainability, FCT Ref. UID/05975/2020, financed by national funds through the FCT/MCTES.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this paper
Cite this paper
Silva, J.P., Lopes, N., Curado, A., Nunes, L.J.R., Lopes, S.I. (2023). Designing a Qualitative Pre-diagnosis Model for the Evaluation of Radon Potential in Indoor Environments. In: Caetano, N.S., Felgueiras, M.C. (eds) The 9th International Conference on Energy and Environment Research. ICEER 2022. Environmental Science and Engineering. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-43559-1_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-43559-1_9
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-43558-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-43559-1
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)