1. Expert Mission meeting on
“Radon Programme and Strategy in the Republic of Moldova”,
Project RER9136, September 2017
Chisinau, Moldova
Current achievements in the Republic of Moldova regarding the monitoring of radon in the rooms and the main components of the environment in connection with the elaboration/implementation of the national concept of diminishing the exposure of the population to radon
Coretchi Liuba
Associated professor
Head of the Radiation Hygiene &Radiation Biology Department

2. Expert mission
Why expert mission
Because in a short time the country has the possibility to prepare specialists in the field of radon monitoring and to acquire radon measurement methodology, etc.
Was it helpful , how and why yes/no
This mission is very important because we have, for example, received good training in the field of radon monitoring, radon measurement methods, radon population reduction methodology based on Austrian and Ukrainian projects.
How to improve this service
By selecting the experienced experts and to connect with the country interest and possibilities.
Countries wishing to invite expert missions – CO-ORDINATION

3. Olga German - Radiation Protection Unit, IAEA
IAEA Experts
Olga German - Radiation Protection Unit, IAEA
Wolfgang Ringer - Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety
Prof. Tetiana Pavlenko, IPH NAMS Ukraine

4. OLGA GERMAN PRESENTATION
Expert mission on Radon Action Plans TC project RER9136
Purpose and expectations of the meeting
Radon in the BSS requirements
Radon Action Plan
Responsibilities and goals
Radon regulations
Radon risk mapping
Training of professionals
Radon remediation

5. WOLFGANG RINGER PRESENTATIONS1.
Experiences of radon risk communication and remediaton needs - Austria
National experience in radon risk mapping, national measurement network, laboratories, QA and calibration - Austria 2.
National experience in prevention and remediation of radon in dwellings and public buildings - Austria 3.
National experience with legal and regulatory structure for radon exposure reduction - Austria 4. 5.
National experience: thermal retrofit, energy efficient buildings, workplaces - Austria

6. Radon risk communication
Communication is a very broad issue. Communication with and between many stakeholder required !!!
Source: WHO, Handbook on Indoor Radon, 2009

7. Communication channels
Radon risk communication
4 main ????
Why?
Communication goals
What?
Key messages
An wen?
Target groups
Who?
Wie?
Communication channels
How? 7

8. Radon risk communication
Communication goals
Step 1: Raise awareness
Step 2: Create understanding / build confidence & trust
Step 3: Convince people to take action
Task is not just to raise awareness, but to create risk perception which leads to action !!!

9. Objective of a radon survey
To estimate the average exposure of the population to indoor radon and the distribution of the exposures
To identify those areas within the country where high indoor radon concentrations are more likely to be found
--- WHO, Handbook on Indoor Radon ---
basically two different types of surveys

10. Two types of radon surveys
To estimate the average exposure
is there a radon health risk in a country; if yes, to what extend?
for implementation of national radon policy (national reference level (RL), estimate number of homes above RL and cost of corrective actions, estimation of the cost of the national radon programme, etc.)
this can be done through a population-weighted survey by measuring indoor radon levels in randomly selected homes
To identify radon prone areas (radon map)
more extensive survey; several thousands of detectors, depending on population and area of the country
this can be achieved with a geographically-based survey (where homes are randomly selected to obtain a minimum density of measurements per area unit chosen - e.g. a grid square, an administrative unit etc).
A carefully designed survey can, in principle, meet the requirements and objectives of both types of surveys

11. Overview – Radon surveys in Austria
First national radon survey in dwellings (1992 – 2004)
Radon in kindergartens (Province of Upper Austria, 1999 – 2001)
Radon in schools (Province of Upper Austria, 2001 – 2002)
Radon in water works and spas (2004 – 2006)
Radon in town halls (Province of Upper Austria, 2008 – 2009)
Radon in show caves and tourist mines (2008 – 2013)
Full radon survey in three municipalities (Province of Upper Austria, 2009 – 2011; Province of Styria, 2012 – 2013)
Second national radon survey in dwellings (2013 ff)

12. National experience in prevention and remediation of radon in dwellings and public buildings - Austria
Exisiting Buildings
Need to identify buildings with high radon levels ->
conduct measurement campaigns (in high radon areas)
encourage measurements in homes (eg. free measurements in Austria)
include radon issue in building authority permit when major renovation or extension
include radon issue in real estate transfer
workplaces into regulation
Mitigation
develop remedial techniques, test and evaluate, update
provide guidelines, standards
provide advice and consultation
provide financial support
provide training to mitigation services
assure quality assurance
cooperate with energy saving stakeholders

13. New Buildings
Main source radon in soil -> prevent entry from soil into building -> matter of construction method -> include issue in building code !!!
Prevention
develop preventive techniques, test and evaluate, update
provide guidelines, standards
provide advice and consultation
provide financial support
provide training to prevention services
assure quality assurance (-> control measurement)
cooperate with energy efficient construction stakeholders
Furthermore, assure that radon from building materials does not contribute significantly to radon indoors.

14. Prevent radon from entering the building

15. Recommendations - Examples
AIRTIGHTNESS
With respect to radon the airtightness of the foundation is the key factor. It is recommended to include the basement in the thermal envelope. If this is not wanted, then the foundation has to be constructed according to the general radon guidelines for new buildings which are available in most EU countries. A radon measurement for verification is recommended.
AIR WELLS
It is recommended not to use air wells at all.
Solutions – using a membrane and a siphon – exist which should prevent radon from the surrounding soil to enter the air well. However, the membrane may get leaky or the siphon may dry out. Furthermore, radon exhaled from the filling material is still drawn into the building.

16. TETIANA PAVLENKO PRESENTATIONS:
National experience of legal and regulatory structure for radon exposure reduction (dwellings, public buildings, construction material) 1.
Experiences of radon risk communication and remediation needs 2.
National experience and practice on remediation of radon in dwellings and public buildings 3.

17. Main stages 1. Radon measurements in dwellings (track detectors)
National experience and practice on remediation of radon in dwellings and public buildings
Main stages
1. Radon measurements in dwellings (track detectors)
2. Search to sources of radon
3. Measure of radon concentration in soil
4. Analysis to structural features of the building.
5. Selection of anti-radon measures and its realization.
6. Evaluation of effectiveness for remediation (track detectors)

18. Pilot project “Stop radon” (Kirovograd region)
Start 2010 – ongoing
The project include:
- radon risk training for the professionals ( );
measurements of radon concentration in schools and nurseries (about 2000 buildings were examined) ( );
justifications of radon countermeasures and their implementation ( 2014);
assessment of efficiency for remediation (ongoing)

19. Action levels for natural sources (existing situation)
Irradiation sources
Obligatory
action level
Absorbed dose rate of gamma radiation
122 pGys-1 (50 μRh-1)
EECs indoor 222Rn
100 Bqm-3
222Rn in water
100 Bql-1
Uran in water
1 Bql-1
226Ra in water
228Ra in water

20. Obligatory аction levels for natural sources (new dwelling)
Irradiation sources
Obligatory
action level
Absorbed dose rate of gamma radiation
30 μRh-1
EECs indoor 222Rn
50 Bqm-3

21. Radon levels in dwelling (> 3 000)

22. Communication Channels
TV and Radio stations, Newspapers
(press conferences, press releases)
Web and other electronic media – Facebook, YouTube, Twitter…
City government offices
Schools, colleges, training centers
Community non-profit offices

23. Head of the Radiation Hygiene &Radiation Biology Department
Coretchi Liuba
Associated professor
Head of the Radiation Hygiene &Radiation Biology Department
Current achievements in the Republic of Moldova regarding the monitoring of radon in the rooms and the main components of the environment in connection with the elaboration/implementation of the national concept of diminishing the exposure of the population to radon

24. The system of radiation protection in the Republic of Moldova
National authority are from the radiation protection point of view responsible for following sections:
Radon indoors
MH, NCPH
Radon at workplaces
MH, NCPH
Food stuff
MH, NCPH & NAFS
Medical exposure
MH, NCPH, users, NARNAR
Water
MH, NCPH
Occupational exposure
MH, NCPH
Radiation sources
NARNAR
Nuclear security and safety
NARNAR
The legislative and statutory basis for radiation and nuclear safety in Moldova is provided primarily through law Nr. 132 from „Safe deployment of Nuclear and Radiological Activities’, as well as, Government Decree – FRPN the general regulations - Fundamental Radiation Protection Norms – Requirements and Hygienic Rules.

25. Radon policies and strategies
RM does not have a radon program or radon action plan approved at the moment, but:
It was developed the actions taken towards developing the Radon action plan:
Established of the national indoor radon reference level (on the base of Council Directive Nr.2013/59/ Euratom and IAEA GSR part 3) and mapping of higher concentration of radon in specific zones will be performed and radon prone area will be elucidated.
For efficiently of the development and establishing of state control of public exposure to Radon it will be necessary to carry out the monitoring of the indoor Radon concentration on the territory of the Republic of Moldova (National project MOL in period ).
National strategy and action plan for Radon monitoring and control of public exposure will be developed.

26. IAEA Projects
Republic of Moldova participated in the implementation of the IAEA regional projects:
● Project RER 5013,
● Project RER 2197,
● Project RER /9/136
● Other Projects in the field of Medical exposure, etc

27. Approximate contributions of various sources to indoor 222Rn (WHO Radon Handbook, Nero et al.)
Single-family homes
Apartments (high-rise)
pCi/L
Bq/m3
Soil (based on flux measurements)
1.5 55
>0
Water (public supplies) 
0.01
0.4
0.37
Building materials
0.05 2
0.1
3.7
Outdoor air
0.25 10
9.25
Observed indoor concentrations
0.3 ?
12 ?

28. x- +_ mx- , Bq m3 (average concentration)
Performing measurements of indoor radon concentrations during in Moldova
Existing dwellings
Cellars
Occupation al environmen t (MSI (basement)
Occupation environment (MSI – 1-7 floor
Public buildings (schools/ kindergar tens)
Underground galleries
x- +_ mx- , Bq m3 (average concentration)
159,7 ±
114,2
465 ± 295,8
142,7 ±
104,3
108,3 ± 94,1
148,4 ± 98,9
1333,3 ±
311,l
Min 14
150 26 11
1000
Max
784
1392
619
586
607
1800
Measured points 85 8 23 28 29 3
Subtotal measurements
992
119
190
337
149 30
Total: 1779 measurements

29. Reference to any publication, documents, data bases, websites or other sources of information in which the national policies and experiences on indoor radon are described.
1.Guide elaboration: “Methodology for monitoring of natural radon sources (222Rn) and assessing the radiological risk for the exposed population”. Authors: Coretchi L., Bahnarel I. et all. Ch .: CNSP, 2014, p. 50, ISBN (in Romanian).
2. Guide elaboration: “Monitoring the sources of ionizing radiation, including radon”. Approved by the State Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Moldova No 1, Authors: Coretchi L., Bahnarel I. et all. (Guide for the population, specialist in radiation hygiene and radiation protection, young specialists in public health and radioecology). (in Romanian).
3. Publication in National and International Journals:
A) Coreţchi L., Bahnarel I. Sanitary and hygienic assessment of radon concentration and His descendants in the soils of the Republic of Moldova. In: ASM Bulletin. Medical Sciences, 2017, no. 1 (53), pp
B) Gîncu M. Consequences of the Chernobyl nuclear accident and the medical-biological effects of ionizing radiation. In: ASM Bulletin. Medical Sciences, 2017, no. 1 (53), pp
C) Corețchi L., Plăvan I. Monitoring and control of radon in waters of Moldova in order to prevent public exposure to ionizing radiation. In: Fifth International Conference on Radiation and applications in various fields of Research
D) Plăvan Irina. Health risk assessment resulting from exposure to ionizing radiation. In: Fifth International Conference on Radiation and applications in various fields of Research
E) Corețchi L., Cojocari A. Health consequences in the descendant population of the participants in the diminution of the Chernobyl disaster. In: Fifth International Conference on Radiation and applications in various fields of Research

30. The results require the need of radon concentrations monitoring in dynamics, with the subsequent elaboration of the complete radon concentrations maps. It is necessary in developing of the maps to use 5 indicators: the indoor radon measurements, geology, and radioactivity in air, soil permeability and foundation type.
The implementation of the extended national programme for radon monitoring in dwellings and the estimation of the public exposure from radon in different types of houses and building materials need to be more developed in the near future.
The implementation of the programme for mines monitoring and underground gallery workers are suggested.
Conclusions

31. Thank you for your attention !