RADON-PRONE AREAS IN SLOVAKIA PREDICTED BY RESCALED RADON POTENTIAL MAPS

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Radiological Protection
• Geology

Background:

• Elevated indoor radon concentrations can originate from soil radon.
• Radon-prone areas are inhabited regions with naturally high indoor radon levels.
• Identifying these areas is crucial for public health and radiation protection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To predict radon-prone areas in the Slovak Republic.
• To identify municipalities potentially exceeding indoor radon reference levels.
• To propose a more efficient method for detecting high radon exposure risks.

Main Methods:

• Utilized radon potential maps specific to the Slovak Republic.
• Rescaled existing radon potential data for enhanced accuracy.
• Applied a predictive approach to identify high-risk municipalities.

Main Results:

• Identified 99 municipalities in Slovakia with expected annual average indoor radon concentrations exceeding 300 Bq m⁻³.
• Five of these municipalities are predicted to exceed 1000 Bq m⁻³.
• The predictive mapping approach proved more efficient than nationwide surveys for identifying high-exposure homes.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully predicted radon-prone areas in Slovakia using rescaled radon potential maps.
• The findings highlight specific municipalities requiring indoor radon measurements.
• The proposed method offers a targeted and efficient strategy for managing indoor radon risks.