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

Abstract

Abstract Several scientific studies have shown that high content of radon in the soil environment can be a precursor of increased indoor radon levels. Inhabited areas where elevated indoor radon concentration appears for natural (geogenic) reasons are commonly referred to as radon-prone areas. In this study, radon-prone areas in the Slovak Republic were predicted on the basis of radon potential maps after its specific rescaling. In total, 99 municipalities have been identified in Slovakia where the annual average indoor radon concentration is expected to exceed the reference level of 300 Bq m−3; five of those are even expected to exceed 1000 Bq m−3. In these municipalities it is then required to conduct a survey of indoor radon measurements. Compared with a nationwide survey, the proposed approach of searching for houses with potentially high radon exposure is more efficient.