Abruzzo is a region located in the middle part of Italy. The Environment Protection Regional Agency (ARTA) since a couple of years ago has been carrying out studies aimed to assess the geographic distribution of indoor radon concentrations and the possible existence of high concentrations areas (radon prone areas). Radon in buildings can reach relatively high concentrations, depending on a number of factors (ground and housing characteristics, ventilation rates and so on). In this paper, the preliminary results regarding the geographical variations of indoor radon concentration levels are discussed and a preliminary radon map is proposed on the basis of more than 1600 measures. The selected approach has been ‘the area sampling technique’, through the territory subdivision in 6 km grid squares, covering almost the whole region, about 10000 km2, excluding uninhabited mountain areas. Each grid square has been further subdivided into nine smaller 2 km grid squares. For each selected measurement site, a document including all those information which could have conditioned the measuring process like coordinates, building typologies, the living habits of the residents and so has been compiled. The statistical analysis of the radon data has been preceded by a normalization with respect to the ground floor values which has then been carried out in relation of both the 6 km grid and municipality areas. In both cases, geometric means and geometric standard deviations of the normalized concentrations have been evaluated applying a Bayesian approach (empirical method). Finally usual geostatistical mapping techniques have been applied to obtain a smoothed radon map.

Radon Risk Mapping in Abruzzo, Italy

PASCULLI, Antonio
2008-01-01

Abstract

Abruzzo is a region located in the middle part of Italy. The Environment Protection Regional Agency (ARTA) since a couple of years ago has been carrying out studies aimed to assess the geographic distribution of indoor radon concentrations and the possible existence of high concentrations areas (radon prone areas). Radon in buildings can reach relatively high concentrations, depending on a number of factors (ground and housing characteristics, ventilation rates and so on). In this paper, the preliminary results regarding the geographical variations of indoor radon concentration levels are discussed and a preliminary radon map is proposed on the basis of more than 1600 measures. The selected approach has been ‘the area sampling technique’, through the territory subdivision in 6 km grid squares, covering almost the whole region, about 10000 km2, excluding uninhabited mountain areas. Each grid square has been further subdivided into nine smaller 2 km grid squares. For each selected measurement site, a document including all those information which could have conditioned the measuring process like coordinates, building typologies, the living habits of the residents and so has been compiled. The statistical analysis of the radon data has been preceded by a normalization with respect to the ground floor values which has then been carried out in relation of both the 6 km grid and municipality areas. In both cases, geometric means and geometric standard deviations of the normalized concentrations have been evaluated applying a Bayesian approach (empirical method). Finally usual geostatistical mapping techniques have been applied to obtain a smoothed radon map.
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11564/440918
 Attenzione

Attenzione! I dati visualizzati non sono stati sottoposti a validazione da parte dell'ateneo

Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus ND
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact