Developing a Secure Low-Cost Radon Monitoring System

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Sensor Technology
• Internet of Things (IoT)

Background:

• Radon gas is a known human carcinogen, posing significant health risks.
• High radon concentrations have been identified in several regions of Spain, notably Galicia.
• Existing monitoring systems may lack cost-effectiveness or robust security measures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and implement a safe, affordable radon monitoring and alert system.
• To leverage open-source technologies for system development and data management.
• To ensure end-to-end communication security to prevent data manipulation.

Main Methods:

• Development of sensor devices with processing and communication modules.
• Implementation of a backend system for data management and alert generation.
• Focus on securing the entire communication pathway from sensor to backend.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated the feasibility of creating a low-cost, secured radon monitoring system.
• Successfully integrated open-source technologies for system functionality.
• Established a secure end-to-end communication path for reliable data transmission.

Conclusions:

• A low-cost, secured radon monitoring system is achievable using open-source solutions.
• Such a system can be scaled into a network to address public health concerns.
• Effective radon monitoring is crucial for mitigating health hazards from indoor radon exposure.