1. THE NEW DIRECTIVE EURATOM BSS: A PROPOSAL TO EVALUATE RADON EXPOSURE AT WORKPLACE
J.L. Gutierrez-Villanueva, Karl Nilsson, Tryggve Rönqvist, Bill Rounds
Radonova laboratories AB, Uppsala (Sweden)
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2. 1. RADON GAS: Fundamentals
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3. The 2017 International Radon Symposium™
Radon is a natural, radioactive and inert gas
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) states that radon gas is a cause of lung cancer in humans
European Code Against Cancer: Find out if you are exposed to radiation from naturally high radon levels in your home. Take action to reduce high radon levels
Radon daughters are alpha and betta emitters but also gamma emitters
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5. 2. Upcoming legislation
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6. THE NEW DIRECTIVE EURATOM BASIC SAFEY STANDARDS
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7. THE NEW DIRECTIVE EURATOM BASIC SAFEY STANDARDS
This document introduces radon gas into the system of radiological protection for the first time
The council of European Union issued the final document in January 2014
It aims to offer better protection for both: public and workplaces
Radon reference levels: 300 Bq m−3
Occupational exposure arrangements in workplaces
> 6 mSv y−1: Situation to be managed as a planned exposure situation ≤ 6 mSv y−1: Exposures need to be kept under review
Establishment of a national radon action plan
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8. THE NEW DIRECTIVE EURATOM BASIC SAFEY STANDARDS
It is appropriate for this Directive to establish reference levels for indoor radon concentrations and for indoor gamma radiation emitted from building materials . . .
Recent epidemiological findings from residential studies demonstrate a statistically significant increase of lung cancer risk from prolonged exposure to indoor radon at levels of the order of 100 Bq m
National action plans are needed for addressing long-term risks from radon exposure . . .
Where, , a Member State establishes a reference level for indoor radon concentrations in workplaces that is higher than 300 Bq m-3, the Member State should submit the information to the Commission . . .
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9. THE NEW DIRECTIVE EURATOM BASIC SAFEY STANDARDS
Article 2: This Directive applies in particular to: the exposure of workers or members of the public to indoor radon, . . .
Article 74: Member States shall establish national reference levels for indoor radon concentrations. The reference levels for the annual average activity concentration in air shall not be higher than 300 Bq m−3
Article 103: Member States shall establish a national action plan addressing long-term risks from radon exposures in dwellings, buildings with public access and workplaces for any source of radon ingress The action plan shall take into account the issues set out in Annex XVIII
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THE NEW DIRECTIVE EURATOM BASIC SAFEY STANDARDS: NAP (National Action Plan)
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THE NEW DIRECTIVE EURATOM BASIC SAFEY STANDARDS: NAP (National Action Plan)
List of 14 items to be covered:
Estimation of indoor radon concentrations (surveys indoor radon, radon in soil gas)
Criteria to identify areas with high radon exposure
Reference levels: dwellings and workplaces
To assign responsibilities in the administration
Strategies to reduce radon exposure: prevention, remedial actions
Revisions and updates of the action plan
Strategy to communicate radon risk
Guidance on methods
Financial support
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12. Protection against radon exposure: European examples
Radon measurement at work places is mandatory on those places with potentially elevated radon levels
Steps on the implementation of EURATOM BSS:
Reference level for dwellings and work places
Radon measurements are obliged in work places located in basements and groundfloor rooms in radon areas
Radon measurements are obliged in specific work places with potentially elevated radon exposures
AUSTRIA
Taken from Valeria Gruber’s presentation at AARST 2017
By NuclearVacuum - File:Location European nation states.svg, CC BY-SA 3.0,
300 Bq m-3
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13. 600 Bq m-3 > 6 mSv: High Control Level
Protection against radon exposure: European examples
INSTRUCTION IS 33 (CSN, Spanish Nuclear Safety Council)
This instruction provides radiological criteria to protect people against exposure to natural radiation in workplaces
It is a normative standard where corrective or protective measures are necessary
It aims at establishing radiological criteria on the next aspects related to the exposure to natural radiation at work places:
Values of effective dose to workers that would require remedial action or surveillance systems
Concentrations of radon at work places that would require remedial action or inspection systems
SPAIN
By NuclearVacuum - File:Location European nation states.svg This vector image includes elements that have been taken or adapted from this:  BlankMap-World-v svg.This vector image was created with Inkscape., CC BY-SA 3.0,
> 6 mSv: High Control Level
600 Bq m-3
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14. 3. Evaluation of the dose due to radon
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15. DOSE DUE TO RADON EXPOSURE
𝐸= 𝐶∙𝐹∙𝑡 3700∙170 ∙𝐷𝐶𝐹
E: Dose in a year
C: Rn concentration (Bq m-3)
F: Equilibrium factor
t: Exposure time (h)
DCF: Dose Conversion Factor (mSv WLM-1)
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16. ICRP MAIN COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 13-17 SYDNEY
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17. ICRP MAIN COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 13-17 SYDNEY
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18. DOSE DUE TO RADON EXPOSURE
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19. DOSE DUE TO RADON EXPOSURE: different scenarios & different Rn conc
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20. DOSE DUE TO RADON EXPOSURE
Radon concentrations at work places can turn out in non-negligible doses due to radon exposures
Mechanical actions? Not a good idea in some cases (show-caves, security problems in certain work places, …)
Limiting working hours? It may be possible or it may not be possible
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21. DOSE DUE TO RADON EXPOSURE
𝐸= 𝐶∙𝐹∙𝑡 3700∙170 ∙𝐷𝐶𝐹
DOSE CONVERSION FACTORS: Just numbers
Equilibrium factor: measurable quantity
EXPOSURE TIME
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22. PERSONAL DOSIMETRY & RADON EXPOSURE
Personal dosimetry is a proper tool to control radon exposure to workers
It is apparently easy to implement: check radon concentrations and exposure time
Radon concentrations may be difficult to manage
The problem is all about TIME EXPOSURE
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23. Some examples of misuse exposure time
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24. Radon concentrations in caves
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25. Radon concentrations in caves during visiting hours
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26. Radon concentrations in caves during visiting hours: some numbers
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27. Radon concentrations in caves during visiting hours: doses old DCF and new proposed DCF
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28. 4. Conclusions
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29. 1.- Dealing with exposure time
How to request from workers an accurate record of working hours?
How to make workers becoming interested on dose due to radon exposure?
How trustable are record hours reported by workers?
2.- An assessment of the exposure time as accurate as possible is mandatory
3.- The proposed DCF may have a big impact on the radiological protection system
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30. Thank you very much for your patience
José - Luis Gutiérrez Villanueva PhD. Specialist radon measurement advisor
Phone:
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