Radon Hazard of the Zhurinsky Fault for the Population in the Kuznetsk Coal Basin: Primary Results

Abstract

The aim of this study is the primary assessment of radon hazard of the Zhurinsky fault of the Kuznetsk coal basin, in the territory of the Salair–Altai–Irtysh fold. Soil radon content, radon flux densities, their spatial characteristics and correlations with each other and with other factors were evaluated. We found that soil radon concentration varies within the range of 3599 to 14,413 Bq/m3 (mean value 8766 ± 569.8 Bq/m3), and radon flux density ranges from 23 to 147 mBq·m−2·s−1 with a mean value of 67.19 ± 1.31 mBq·m−2·s−1. A correlation with air temperature, pressure and humidity was found, which decreases with the depth of the measurements. All studied parameters in space are clustered (p ≤ 0.1). At the same time, the whole studied area in the vicinity of the tectonic disturbance should be classified as radon-hazardous, and residential structures located within its boundaries as potentially hazardous. Our study contributes to understanding the radon hazard of crustal faults.