Monika Müllerová

Study of radon exhalation from the soil

The influence of meteorological parameters on radon exhalation rate was analyzed. The analyses show a significant influence of precipitation on radon exhalation rate. The highest exhalation rate was found during dry periods and the lowest during the periods of strong precipitation. We also tested two different types of detectors for the measurement of radon exhalation rate—the ionization chamber (AlphaGUARD) and the scintillation chamber of Lucas type. The exhalation rates measured by these detectors were in a good agreement. Likewise, there was an agreement in radon exhalation rates determined from short term and long term increases in radon activity concentration.

Reference material for natural radionuclides in glass designed for underground experiments

A reference material designed for the determination of natural radionuclides in solid samples (glass pellets) is described and the results of certification are presented. The material has been certified for 7 natural radionuclides (40K, 226Ra, 228Ra, 228Th, 232Th, 235U and 238U). An information value is given for 210Pb. Radon (222Rn) emanation experiments showed results comparable within participating laboratories, however, the number of data and precision was too low to carry out a certification process. The reference material may be used for quality management of analytical laboratories engaged in the high-sensitive analysis of radionuclides in the construction materials of detectors placed in ultra low background underground laboratories.

Study of Relation between Indoor Radon in Multi-storey Building and Outdoor Factors

A continuous radon monitoring in indoor and outdoor air was carried out for the period of one year. The relation between indoor radon and indoor‐outdoor temperature difference, as well as between indoor radon and outdoor radon was investigated. The best correlation was obtained between indoor and outdoor radon concentrations.

Investigation of Relation Between Outdoor Temperature and Radon Concentration in Buildings

The results of measurements of radon concentration variations in two types of buildings in Slovakia are reported. The AlphaGUARD radon monitor was used for continuous monitoring of radon activity concentration in indoor air. The analysis showed that the indoor radon in both buildings had very different responses to outdoor temperature.

On the relation between outdoor 222 Rn and atmospheric stability determined by a modified Turner method

In practice, information about atmospheric stability is often obtained from discrete stability classes determined from routine meteorological observations. However, changing concentrations of the radioactive gas 222Rn present in the atmosphere are also considered a good indicator of vertical dispersion and atmospheric stability. A complex, in-depth analysis between these different approaches of atmospheric stability assessment has not been performed so far, and was the main motivation behind this study. The study presents atmospheric radon data measured in Bratislava (Slovakia) and stability indexes (SI) calculated according to a modified Turner method during a period of one year. Basic features of the diurnal and seasonal variations of these variables are discussed. It was found that the time series of radon activity concentration (RAC) lags approximately 5 h behind that of the Turner stability classes adjusted for temperate climate regions. Various time lags were also identified between RAC and meteorological variables used to determine the stability classes. Evaluation of seasonal trends revealed a low variability of mean monthly values of stability classes compared to the variability of mean monthly values of RAC. Another notable difference between RAC and stability indexes was found - while the stability index can both increase and decrease with wind speed, concentration of outdoor radon was never observed to increase with increasing wind speed. In spite of the mentioned discrepancies, the time series of RAC and SI are generally in a good agreement. This is especially true if one compares the deviations of RAC and SI from their mean daily values, when the differences in their seasonal variability are eliminated. Deviations of RAC can be used to calculate diurnal variations of stability indexes. Analysis of a complete year of data also revealed a roughly linear relationship between average values of RAC and calculated stability indexes, because in large datasets random processes tend to cancel each other out.

Preliminary Results of Radon Survey in the Kindergartens of V4 Countries

The measurements of radon concentration were carried out in kindergartens of V4 countries (Hungary, Poland and Slovakia). RSKS detectors (Radosys Ltd., Hungary) were used for integrating measurement in indoor air. In total, 67 rooms in 20 kindergartens were measured. The survey was carried out in two periods from October 2015 to March 2016. The results show that radon concentration is less than 300 Bq m-3 in approximately 86.0% of cases in the first period and in 82.1% of cases in second period. However, rooms in kindergartens with radon concentration exceeding 1000 Bq m-3 were found in Slovakia.

The results of integration measurements of indoor radon activity concentration in houses in Ružomberok town (Northern Slovakia)

Abstract Integration measurements of indoor radon in houses were performed within the framework of the project “Harmonization of determining the radiation dose of the population originating from radon in V4 countries”. In Slovakia, the survey was performed in three localities: Záhorská Bystrica, Mochovce and Ružomberok. Monitoring started in March 2012 and lasted for one year. In Ružomberok ten houses were selected for monitoring purposes. The houses built before 1990 were predominantly chosen for the investigation. In selected houses in Ružomberok, radon activity concentration rarely exceeded 400 Bq/m3 in a three month period, in this case the inhabitants were advised how to lower radon exposure. No house was found with an annual radon activity concentration of more than 400 Bq/m3.

Outdoor Radon—Sources, Monitoring and Risk Assessment

Various sources of atmospheric radon, as well as the results of radon monitoring at the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics (FMFI CU) campus are discussed. The evaluation of the risk caused by radon and its decay products in the Bratislava atmosphere is given.