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. 2022 May 16;19(10):6056.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph19106056.

Experimental Studies to Test a Predictive Indoor Radon Model

Simona Mancini  1 , Martins Vilnitis  2 , Nataša Todorović  3 , Jovana Nikolov  3 , Michele Guida  1   4
Affiliations

Experimental Studies to Test a Predictive Indoor Radon Model

Simona Mancini et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

The accumulation of the radioactive gas radon in closed environments, such as dwellings, is the result of a quite complex set of processes related to the contribution of different sources. As it undergoes different physical mechanisms, all occurring at the same time, models describing the general dynamic turns out to be difficult to apply because of the dependence on many parameters not easy to measure or calculate. In this context, the authors developed, in a previous work, a simplified approach based on the combination of a physics-mathematical model and on-site experimental measurements. Three experimental studies were performed in order to preliminarily test the goodness of the model to simulate indoor radon concentrations in closed environments. In this paper, an application on a new experimental site was realized in order to evaluate the adaptability of the model to different house typologies and environmental contexts. Radon activity measurements were performed using a portable radon detector and results, showing again good performance of the model. Results are discussed and future efforts are outlined for the refining and implementation of the model into software.

Keywords: indoor radon; modeling; radon measurements.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Experimental site location: (a) geographical and (b) urban context.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) 3D drawing and photo (b) of the test room.
Figure 3
Figure 3
3D drawing with evidence on the localization of the instrument (red dot) for measurements on (a) walls and (b) indoor air. Set up of the instrument: wall (c) and indoor air (d) measurements.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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