Long-Term Impacts of Weather Conditions on Indoor Radon Concentration Measurements in Switzerland
Radon is a natural and radioactive gas that can accumulate in indoor environments. Indoor radon concentration (IRC) is influenced, among other factors, by meteorology, which is the subject of this paper. Weather parameters impact indoor radon levels and have already been investigated, but rarely in...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Atmosphere |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/13/1/92 |
| _version_ | 1797495887818129408 |
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| author | Joan Frédéric Rey Stéphane Goyette Mauro Gandolla Martha Palacios Fabio Barazza Joëlle Goyette Pernot |
| author_facet | Joan Frédéric Rey Stéphane Goyette Mauro Gandolla Martha Palacios Fabio Barazza Joëlle Goyette Pernot |
| author_sort | Joan Frédéric Rey |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Radon is a natural and radioactive gas that can accumulate in indoor environments. Indoor radon concentration (IRC) is influenced, among other factors, by meteorology, which is the subject of this paper. Weather parameters impact indoor radon levels and have already been investigated, but rarely in Switzerland. Moreover, there is a strong need for a better understanding of the radon behaviour inside buildings in Switzerland for public health concerns as Switzerland is a radon prone area. Based on long-term, continuous, and hourly radon measurements, radon distributions classified according to different weather event definitions were investigated and then compared at three different study sites in Western Switzerland. Outdoor temperature influences the most indoor radon, and it is globally anti-correlated. Wind influences indoor radon, but it strongly depends on intensity, direction, and building characteristics. Precipitation influences periodically indoor radon levels relatively to their intensity. Atmospheric pressure and relative humidity do not seem to be huge determinants on IRC. Our results are in line with previous findings and provide a vivid example in Western Switzerland. This paper underlines the different influence complexities of radon, and the need to communicate about it within the broader public and with construction professionals, to raise awareness. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:56:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7955758a430a484196487a7123b16e03 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:56:03Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-7955758a430a484196487a7123b16e032023-11-23T12:57:01ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332022-01-011319210.3390/atmos13010092Long-Term Impacts of Weather Conditions on Indoor Radon Concentration Measurements in SwitzerlandJoan Frédéric Rey0Stéphane Goyette1Mauro Gandolla2Martha Palacios3Fabio Barazza4Joëlle Goyette Pernot5Transform Institute, Western Swiss Centre for Indoor Air Quality and Radon (croqAIR), School of Engineering and Architecture of Fribourg, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western, 1700 Fribourg, SwitzerlandTransform Institute, Western Swiss Centre for Indoor Air Quality and Radon (croqAIR), School of Engineering and Architecture of Fribourg, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western, 1700 Fribourg, SwitzerlandECONS SA, 6934 Bioggio, SwitzerlandFederal Office of Public Health, 3097 Liebefeld, SwitzerlandFederal Office of Public Health, 3097 Liebefeld, SwitzerlandTransform Institute, Western Swiss Centre for Indoor Air Quality and Radon (croqAIR), School of Engineering and Architecture of Fribourg, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western, 1700 Fribourg, SwitzerlandRadon is a natural and radioactive gas that can accumulate in indoor environments. Indoor radon concentration (IRC) is influenced, among other factors, by meteorology, which is the subject of this paper. Weather parameters impact indoor radon levels and have already been investigated, but rarely in Switzerland. Moreover, there is a strong need for a better understanding of the radon behaviour inside buildings in Switzerland for public health concerns as Switzerland is a radon prone area. Based on long-term, continuous, and hourly radon measurements, radon distributions classified according to different weather event definitions were investigated and then compared at three different study sites in Western Switzerland. Outdoor temperature influences the most indoor radon, and it is globally anti-correlated. Wind influences indoor radon, but it strongly depends on intensity, direction, and building characteristics. Precipitation influences periodically indoor radon levels relatively to their intensity. Atmospheric pressure and relative humidity do not seem to be huge determinants on IRC. Our results are in line with previous findings and provide a vivid example in Western Switzerland. This paper underlines the different influence complexities of radon, and the need to communicate about it within the broader public and with construction professionals, to raise awareness.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/13/1/92radonindoor radon levelsmeteorological parametersSwitzerlandJura mountainspublic health concern |
| spellingShingle | Joan Frédéric Rey Stéphane Goyette Mauro Gandolla Martha Palacios Fabio Barazza Joëlle Goyette Pernot Long-Term Impacts of Weather Conditions on Indoor Radon Concentration Measurements in Switzerland Atmosphere radon indoor radon levels meteorological parameters Switzerland Jura mountains public health concern |
| title | Long-Term Impacts of Weather Conditions on Indoor Radon Concentration Measurements in Switzerland |
| title_full | Long-Term Impacts of Weather Conditions on Indoor Radon Concentration Measurements in Switzerland |
| title_fullStr | Long-Term Impacts of Weather Conditions on Indoor Radon Concentration Measurements in Switzerland |
| title_full_unstemmed | Long-Term Impacts of Weather Conditions on Indoor Radon Concentration Measurements in Switzerland |
| title_short | Long-Term Impacts of Weather Conditions on Indoor Radon Concentration Measurements in Switzerland |
| title_sort | long term impacts of weather conditions on indoor radon concentration measurements in switzerland |
| topic | radon indoor radon levels meteorological parameters Switzerland Jura mountains public health concern |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/13/1/92 |
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