RadoNorm

Research Seminar in March The upcoming RadoNorm Research Seminar on 12th March 2025 at 13:30 CET will feature results from WP3 (Dosimetry) and be presented by Vladimir Spielmann (BfS). The title of the talk will be “Dose coefficients for chronic intake of radon gas and progeny by children”. An abstract can be found on the research seminar series website https://lnkd.in/dCxRq2Sk. The webinar will take place in this Webex meeting room: https://lnkd.in/dMCT8GSC

Job opening at BfS An opening is available for a permanent position at BfS in Berlin (https://lnkd.in/dyXbG_3t) in the area of NORM activities. Responsibilities of the job involve: ·        managing the department's gamma spectrometry laboratory ·        examining industrial residues (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material, NORM) in particular for the content of radionuclides using gamma spectrometric methods ·        developing your own research projects on the topic of NORM and publishing measurement data ·        checking the suitability of sampling and analysis methods and developing them further ·        designing measurement comparisons to determine the specific activity of natural radionuclides using gamma spectrometry ·        taking part in measurement comparisons as part of quality assurance ·        supporting authorities and measuring stations with regard to measurement, analysis and evaluation methods in the NORM area ·        providing support in the event of a radiological emergency and advice to relevant parties on the misuse of radioactive substances. Deadline for applications is 11.3.2025 through the application portal: https://lnkd.in/dVM4HDYZ. For more details, please contact Ms. Nicole Klasen (nklasen@bfs.de).

New RadoNorm Publication from WP4 Wafa Alimam and Anssi Auvinen from Tampere University, Finland, in RadoNorm’s WP4 (Effects & Risks) published their latest findings on “Cancer risk due to ingestion of naturally occurring radionuclides through drinking water: A systematic review”  https://lnkd.in/dBkxKUZx in Science of the Total Environment. The authors conducted a systematic review of the literature on cancer risk associated with radionuclide ingestion through drinking water, aiming to summarise and evaluate the current epidemiological evidence. Published studies have examined the effects of uranium, radium, and radon, while potential risks of polonium, radioactive lead, and thorium remain unknown. Existing research is heterogeneous regarding the assessed cancer types and faces methodological challenges. Due to lack of high-quality evidence, it is not possible to confirm or rule out an increased cancer risk among highly exposed populations. The paper calls for future studies to focus on populations with high radionuclide exposure to provide sufficient exposure contrast, prioritising radionuclides with high-dose coefficients and cancers in tissues with the highest radionuclide deposition. This and more RadoNorm publications can be found on the website https://lnkd.in/dBkxKUZx. #radonorm #paper #research

Successful PhD Defence of Andrea Maiorana Andrea Maiorana at the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) in Italy successfully defended his doctoral thesis involving work in WP2 (Exposure) of RadoNorm. His thesis titled “Building materials as a source of indoor radon exposure” is now available for download https://lnkd.in/dn5fYGFB. RadoNorm is proud of his accomplishments.  #radonorm #research

New RadoNorm Deliverables Available RadoNorm has released its latest research findings and practical guidelines on radon and NORM-related topics, including radon measurement, mitigation, dosimetric effects, and environmental impact. These reports provide essential insights for researchers, policymakers, and industry professionals. Visit the RadoNorm website https://lnkd.in/gSdJtNv to download them. Radon exposure and measurement D2.3 - Report and comprehensive database containing information related to radon-progeny activity concentration and aerosol characteristics at selected workplaces D2.4 - Report on proficiency test of active instrumentation, including a practical guideline that will introduce into essential measures of quality control, reflecting requirements from normative documents D2.6 - Methodology for the assessment of radon exhalation and gamma irradiation from building materials containing NORM and contribution of such materials to the indoor radon concentration D2.5 - Report on outdoor radon, thoron and their decay products: exhalation, atmospheric transport and deposition D5.9 - Measurement protocol of radon progeny attached and unattached fraction Environmental & Health Impact D2.14 - Recommendations for transfer parameters to plant D2.15 - Report on the influence of microorganisms on the transport behaviour of uranium in mine waters D2.16 - Report on the main conclusions from the laboratory sorption-desorption experiments and inclusion of respective information into an updated database on soil sorption and desorption parameters for NOR D3.1 - Report on the effects of smoking on absorbed doses from radon exposure D3.4 - Report on the uncertainties affecting dosimetric calculations Technology & Mitigation Strategies D5.4 - Report on radon control technologies used in buildings built from building materials emitting high levels of radon D5.8 - Report on variability and sustainability of radon prevention and mitigation in homes and in large buildings D5.10 - Report on In-situ Intercomparison measurement campaign D5.11 - Report on available solutions and technologies applicable for legacy site remediation, NORM involving industries and treatment of radioactivity in water D5.12 - Feasibility study into application of selected radioecological model for evaluation of NORM treatment options and NORM legacy remediation Societal Aspects D6.3 - Training material on how to apply the methodological toolbox D6.12 - Scientific article on societal aspects of radiation protection related to radon in geothermal energy D6.14 - Report on controversies between “radon as treatment in radon spas” and radon as threat in “health communication campaigns” #radonorm #research

The Success of Source International’s Citizen Science Project One of the citizen science (CS) projects funded through RadoNorm’s open call for citizen science projects (https://lnkd.in/duF3kz5M) was conducted by Source International (https://lnkd.in/d3ykSvUd) , a group of scientists and lawyers who work with communities to provide evidence of pollution and human rights abuses. Their CS project titled “Citizen Observatory of Radon Gas” was carried out in the municipality of Abbadia San Salvatore in Italy. A post-assessment of the project showed that it had considerable impact in the region, leading to local authorities to encourage radon measurements, schools undertaking measurements and roundtable discussions with local stakeholders in the municipality. Their efforts spawned other regional initiatives on radon. More information can be found on a Source International article here https://lnkd.in/dwHB3tZZ.

New publication from WP6 Nazanin Love and colleagues from Hasselt University, the Belgian Nuclear Research Center (SCK CEN) and the Elektroinštitut Milan Vidmar in RadoNorm’s WP6 (Societal Aspects) published their latest findings on “Stakeholders’ perspective on sustainable cement made with naturally occurring radioactive by-products: A cross-country comparison” in the Journal of Environmental Management Stakeholders’ perspective on sustainable cement made with naturally occurring radioactive by-products: A cross-country comparison - ScienceDirect. This paper investigates the perceptions of industry representatives and end-users across Belgium, Czech Republic and Slovenia regarding alternative cement made with industrial by-products containing naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM). Three main concerns were identified: health, performance, and economic factors. Health concerns varied across countries, whereas performance and economic concerns remained consistent. This study informs communication and policy strategies tailored to address stakeholders' specific concerns in each country. This and more RadoNorm publications can be found on the https://lnkd.in/dxbHH3kg.

Research Seminar in February The upcoming RadoNorm Research Seminar on 19th February 2025 at 13:30 CET will feature results from Task 4.9 of WP4 (Effects and Risks) and be presented by Jordi Vives i Batlle (SCK CEN). The title of the talk will be “A model to assess the combined effects of ionising radiation and chemical pollutants in populations of wildlife” based on his latest publication https://lnkd.in/gvJDibae. An abstract can be found on the research seminar series website https://lnkd.in/ddpP7-eV. The webinar will take place in this Webex meeting room: https://lnkd.in/dMCT8GSC

New publication in WP2 T. Turtiainen and colleagues from the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority in Finland (STUK) have published their new paper “Variation in Radon Concentration Between Apartments in Housing Cooperatives” https://lnkd.in/d3d337g2 in MDPI Atmosphere. Housing cooperatives, a common form of housing in Nordic countries, oversee tasks like building maintenance, renovations, and radon mitigation. This study examined radon level variations in nearly 16,000 apartments across 3,552 cooperatives. Radon concentrations within cooperatives followed a log-normal distribution, with geometric standard deviations (GSD) varying widely. Median GSDs ranged from 1.5 to 2.0, depending on the number of apartments measured. A predictive model was developed to estimate the likelihood of apartments exceeding radon reference levels based on the cooperative's geometric mean radon concentration. The findings emphasise the importance of measuring radon levels in all apartments to ensure safety. The study's findings can also be utilised to address uncertainties in radon concentration modelling, as apartments within the same housing cooperative are typically assigned identical parameter values (year of construction, type of base floor, ventilation method, etc.) in the models. Click here https://lnkd.in/dxbHH3kg more of RadoNorm’s latest publications. #radonorm #paper

Successful PhD Defences of RadoNorm PhD Students In the past few weeks, a number of RadoNorm PhD students have concluded their PhD work and projects in RadoNorm. Congratulations to: Licia Felicioni, defended on 16th December 2024 Joan Rey, defended on 18th December 2024 Nazanin Love, defended on 17th January 2025. RadoNorm is proud of their accomplishments. #radonorm #science