A Novel Strategy for the Assessment of Radon Risk Based on Indicators

Simona Mancini, Martins Vilnitis and Michele Guida
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Simona Mancini: Department of Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Applied Mathematics (DIEM), Laboratory “Ambients and Radiations (Amb.Ra.)”, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy
Martins Vilnitis: Institute of Construction Technology, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Riga Technical University, 1658 Riga, Latvia
Michele Guida: Department of Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Applied Mathematics (DIEM), Laboratory “Ambients and Radiations (Amb.Ra.)”, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 15, 1-13

Abstract: Among the physical pollutants affecting indoor air, the radioactive gas radon may turn out to be the most hazardous. Health effects related to radon exposure have been investigated for several decades, providing major scientific evidence to conclude that chronic exposures can cause lung cancer. Additionally, an association with other diseases, such as leukemia and cancers of the extra-thoracic airways, has been advanced. The implementation of a strategy to reduce the exposure of the population and minimize the health risk, according to the European Directive 59/2013/Euratom on ionizing radiations, is a new challenge in public health management. Starting from an understanding of the general state-of-the-art, a critical analysis of existing approaches has been conducted, identifying strengths and weaknesses. Then, a strategy for assessing the radon exposure of the general population, in a new comprehensive way, is proposed. It identifies three main areas of intervention and provides a list of hazard indicators and operative solutions to control human exposure. The strategy has been conceived to provide a supporting tool to authorities in the introduction of effective measures to assess population health risks due to radon exposure.

Keywords: radon assessment; indoor radon; radon in building materials; environmental radon; radon exposure; health risk of radon; radon and public health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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