Radon concentrations inside castles and other ancient buildings

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Radiological Protection
• Building Physics

Background:

• Radon-222 (Rn-222) is a naturally occurring radioactive gas.
• Elevated indoor radon levels can pose health risks.
• Historical buildings may have unique characteristics influencing radon accumulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess indoor radon concentrations in historical buildings in Parma and Reggio Emilia, Northern Italy.
• To compare radon levels in ancient structures with those in modern dwellings.
• To contribute data for radiological protection assessments in heritage sites.

Main Methods:

• Utilized activated carbon canisters for radon sampling over at least 48 hours.
• Conducted measurements in 24 castles and 13 ancient buildings across 30 locations.
• Quantified radon via its gamma-emitting daughters using NaI(Tl) and Ge(I) detectors.

Main Results:

• Mean radon concentration in ancient buildings was 72 Bq m-3 (arithmetic) and 49 Bq m-3 (geometric).
• Modern dwellings in the same area showed significantly lower mean concentrations: 30 Bq m-3 (arithmetic) and 19 Bq m-3 (geometric).
• Radon levels in historical structures were notably higher than in contemporary residences.

Conclusions:

• Ancient buildings in Parma and Reggio Emilia exhibit higher indoor radon-222 concentrations compared to modern homes.
• Findings highlight the need for specific radon monitoring and mitigation strategies in historical structures.
• This study provides crucial data for understanding radon behavior in diverse building types.