Radon (Rn-222) is a naturally occurring heavy radioactive gas formed by the decay of radium (Ra-226). It is emitted from the soil and disperses into the atmosphere. It´s considered dangerous to human health when allowed to accumulate in confined places like cellars and basements. The rates of radon emission vary based on the amount of rainfall or the uranium content of the local soil. The concentration of radon and its daughter products depends on the level of ventilation or the air movements in a given area.
The IAEA and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) have taken another step in their global initiative to improve atmospheric investigations that use radon. Radon in the air is useful for studying how pollutants move through the atmosphere and for testing the accuracy of the atmospheric dispersion models. A particularly important application is its use in estimating greenhouse gas emissions and to predict climate change and global warming. It is also measured at stations of the WMO´s Global Atmosphere Watch network.
Scientists and engineers, world-wide, are involved in measuring radon emission from land and also in measuring atmospheric radon. The IAEA has been working on an initiative aimed at standardizing radon measurement tools and practices to improve the quality of their data so that the data are comparable world-wide, and can be used for global projections on climate change.
(Based on IAEA News)
Friday, August 14, 2009
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