<sup>222</sup>Rn Exhalation Rate of Building Materials: Comparison of Standard Experimental Protocols and Radiological Health Hazard Assessment
This study evaluates the accuracy of <sup>222</sup>Rn exhalation rates from building materials using two standard experimental protocols, thus addressing the increasing importance of rapid radon assessment due to health concerns and regulatory limits. In detail, six types of natural ston...
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2025-07-01
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| author | Francesco Caridi Lorenzo Pistorino Federica Minissale Giuseppe Paladini Michele Guida Simona Mancini Domenico Majolino Valentina Venuti |
| author_facet | Francesco Caridi Lorenzo Pistorino Federica Minissale Giuseppe Paladini Michele Guida Simona Mancini Domenico Majolino Valentina Venuti |
| author_sort | Francesco Caridi |
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| description | This study evaluates the accuracy of <sup>222</sup>Rn exhalation rates from building materials using two standard experimental protocols, thus addressing the increasing importance of rapid radon assessment due to health concerns and regulatory limits. In detail, six types of natural stones frequently employed for the construction of buildings of historical-artistic relevance were analyzed using the closed chamber method (CCM) combined with the Durridge Rad7 system, by using two experimental protocols that differed in the measurement duration: 10 days (<i>Method 1</i>) versus 24 h (<i>Method 2</i>). Obtained results revealed that the radon exhalation rates ranged from 0.004 to 0.072 Bq h<sup>−1</sup>, which are moderate to low if compared to studies in other regions. Statistical comparison using the u-test confirmed equivalence between protocols (u-test ≤ 2), thus supporting the validity of the faster <i>Method 2</i> for practical applications. Furthermore, to estimate the potential indoor radon levels and determine the associated radiological risks to human health, for the investigated natural stones, the Markkanen room model was employed. As a result, simulated indoor radon concentrations remained well below regulatory thresholds (maximum value: 37.3 Bq m<sup>−3</sup>), thus excluding any significant health concerns under typical indoor conditions. |
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| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| spelling | doaj-art-c68ca3308c0745d3944c16a2b34653b52025-07-25T13:12:58ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-07-011514801510.3390/app15148015<sup>222</sup>Rn Exhalation Rate of Building Materials: Comparison of Standard Experimental Protocols and Radiological Health Hazard AssessmentFrancesco Caridi0Lorenzo Pistorino1Federica Minissale2Giuseppe Paladini3Michele Guida4Simona Mancini5Domenico Majolino6Valentina Venuti7Dipartimento di Scienze Matematiche e Informatiche, Scienze Fisiche e Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Messina, Viale F. Stagno d’Alcontres, 31, 98166 Messina, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze Matematiche e Informatiche, Scienze Fisiche e Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Messina, Viale F. Stagno d’Alcontres, 31, 98166 Messina, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze Matematiche e Informatiche, Scienze Fisiche e Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Messina, Viale F. Stagno d’Alcontres, 31, 98166 Messina, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze Matematiche e Informatiche, Scienze Fisiche e Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Messina, Viale F. Stagno d’Alcontres, 31, 98166 Messina, ItalyDipartimento di Ingegneria dell’Informazione ed Elettrica e Matematica Applicata (DIEM), Università degli Studi di Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano, ItalyDipartimento di Ingegneria dell’Informazione ed Elettrica e Matematica Applicata (DIEM), Università degli Studi di Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze Matematiche e Informatiche, Scienze Fisiche e Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Messina, Viale F. Stagno d’Alcontres, 31, 98166 Messina, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze Matematiche e Informatiche, Scienze Fisiche e Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Messina, Viale F. Stagno d’Alcontres, 31, 98166 Messina, ItalyThis study evaluates the accuracy of <sup>222</sup>Rn exhalation rates from building materials using two standard experimental protocols, thus addressing the increasing importance of rapid radon assessment due to health concerns and regulatory limits. In detail, six types of natural stones frequently employed for the construction of buildings of historical-artistic relevance were analyzed using the closed chamber method (CCM) combined with the Durridge Rad7 system, by using two experimental protocols that differed in the measurement duration: 10 days (<i>Method 1</i>) versus 24 h (<i>Method 2</i>). Obtained results revealed that the radon exhalation rates ranged from 0.004 to 0.072 Bq h<sup>−1</sup>, which are moderate to low if compared to studies in other regions. Statistical comparison using the u-test confirmed equivalence between protocols (u-test ≤ 2), thus supporting the validity of the faster <i>Method 2</i> for practical applications. Furthermore, to estimate the potential indoor radon levels and determine the associated radiological risks to human health, for the investigated natural stones, the Markkanen room model was employed. As a result, simulated indoor radon concentrations remained well below regulatory thresholds (maximum value: 37.3 Bq m<sup>−3</sup>), thus excluding any significant health concerns under typical indoor conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/14/8015building materialsradon exhalationclosed chamber method (CCM)u-testMarkkanen room model |
| spellingShingle | Francesco Caridi Lorenzo Pistorino Federica Minissale Giuseppe Paladini Michele Guida Simona Mancini Domenico Majolino Valentina Venuti <sup>222</sup>Rn Exhalation Rate of Building Materials: Comparison of Standard Experimental Protocols and Radiological Health Hazard Assessment Applied Sciences building materials radon exhalation closed chamber method (CCM) u-test Markkanen room model |
| title | <sup>222</sup>Rn Exhalation Rate of Building Materials: Comparison of Standard Experimental Protocols and Radiological Health Hazard Assessment |
| title_full | <sup>222</sup>Rn Exhalation Rate of Building Materials: Comparison of Standard Experimental Protocols and Radiological Health Hazard Assessment |
| title_fullStr | <sup>222</sup>Rn Exhalation Rate of Building Materials: Comparison of Standard Experimental Protocols and Radiological Health Hazard Assessment |
| title_full_unstemmed | <sup>222</sup>Rn Exhalation Rate of Building Materials: Comparison of Standard Experimental Protocols and Radiological Health Hazard Assessment |
| title_short | <sup>222</sup>Rn Exhalation Rate of Building Materials: Comparison of Standard Experimental Protocols and Radiological Health Hazard Assessment |
| title_sort | sup 222 sup rn exhalation rate of building materials comparison of standard experimental protocols and radiological health hazard assessment |
| topic | building materials radon exhalation closed chamber method (CCM) u-test Markkanen room model |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/14/8015 |
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