Detailed Geogenic Radon Potential Mapping Using Geospatial Analysis of Multiple Geo-Variables—A Case Study from a High-Risk Area in SE Ireland

Mirsina Mousavi Aghdam, Valentina Dentoni, Stefania Da Pelo () and Quentin Crowley ()
Additional contact information
Mirsina Mousavi Aghdam: Department of Geology, Trinity College Dublin, D02 YY50 Dublin, Ireland
Valentina Dentoni: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Architecture, University of Cagliari, 09123 Cagliari, Italy
Stefania Da Pelo: Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09123 Cagliari, Italy
Quentin Crowley: Department of Geology, Trinity College Dublin, D02 YY50 Dublin, Ireland

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 23, 1-17

Abstract: A detailed investigation of geogenic radon potential (GRP) was carried out near Graiguenamanagh town (County Kilkenny, Ireland) by performing a spatial regression analysis on radon-related variables to evaluate the exposure of people to natural radiation (i.e., radon, thoron and gamma radiation). The study area includes an offshoot of the Caledonian Leinster Granite, which is locally intruded into Ordovician metasediments. To model radon release potential at different points, an ordinary least squared (OLS) regression model was developed in which soil gas radon (SGR) concentrations were considered as the response value. Proxy variables such as radionuclide concentrations obtained from airborne radiometric surveys, soil gas permeability, distance from major faults and a digital terrain model were used as the input predictors. ArcGIS and QGIS software together with XLSTAT statistical software were used to visualise, analyse and validate the data and models. The proposed GRP models were validated through diagnostic tests. Empirical Bayesian kriging (EBK) was used to produce the map of the spatial distribution of predicted GRP values and to estimate the prediction uncertainty. The methodology described here can be extended for larger areas and the models could be utilised to estimate the GRPs of other areas where radon-related proxy values are available.

Keywords: geogenic radon potential; geostatistical analysis; radon-related variables; soil gas radon; airborne radiometric (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/23/15910/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/23/15910/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:23:p:15910-:d:987682

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().