The Austrian Radon Project

Author(s)
Harry Friedmann, Peter Zimprich, C Atzmüller, W Hofmann, H Lettner, F Steinhäusler, E Hamernik, Franz Josef Maringer, L Mossbauer, H Kaineder, E Nadschläger, S Sperker, P Karacson, V Karg, C Kralik, K Pock, Franz Schönhofer, L Breitenhuber, P Kindl, Gernot Oberlercher, Wolfgang Seiberl, H Stadtmann, Ferdinand Steger, M. Tschurlovits
Abstract

The aim of the Austrian Radon Project (ARP) is to investigate the 222Rn concentration in 0.3-0.5% of all Austrian dwellings to identify areas with elevated radon exposure. The survey is carried out using short- term and long-term integrating radon detectors covering a population of 2 800 000 persons so far. The homes were randomly selected from the telephone directory. The radon concentration distribution showed a log-normal shape. County-means between 60 and 330 Bq/m3 were found. A radon potential was introduced to deduce a geological risk from the data taken under different circumstances in different types of houses. This radon potential was defined as the annual mean radon concentration in a standard dwelling and is computed by normalizing the measured radon data to this standard dwelling.

Organisation(s)
Department of Meteorology and Geophysics
External organisation(s)
Paris-Lodron Universität Salzburg, Arsenal Research : Österreichisches Forschungs- und Prüfzentrum Arsenal Ges.m.b.H., Bundesanstalt für Lebensmitteluntersuchung und Forschung in Wien, Technische Universität Graz, Amt der Oberösterreichischen Landesregierung, Niederösterreichische Landesregierung, Austrian Research Centers GmbH (ARC Seibersdorf), Technische Universität Wien
Journal
Environment International
Volume
22
Pages
677-686
No. of pages
10
ISSN
0160-4120
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0160-4120(96)00171-7
Publication date
1996
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
1030 Physics, Astronomy
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/the-austrian-radon-project(3b4ae6da-f305-49e5-99c2-adc6c5c43e52).html