1. Results of the follow up questionnaire
Trevor Boal

2. Contents RER9136 Questionnaire – 2014 Follow-up Questionnaire - 2017
Radon Policies and Strategies
Radon in Civil Engineering
Measurement of Radon
Radon Surveys
Radon Awareness
Education

3. Questionnaire
Questionnaire circulated to 31 Member States participating in RER9127 in April 2014
Detailed questionnaire based on questionnaires used by WHO International Radon Project (published 2007), and EC RADPAR ( )
Responses received from 28 Member States
TECDOC published March 2017

4. Follow-up Questionnaire – 2017
Questionnaire, based on the 2014 questionnaire
Fewer questions
Questionnaire sent to 31 Member States
Responses received from 27 Member States
c.f. 2014: no response from Poland and Kyrgyzstan
c.f. 2014, response from Uzbekistan
Preliminary Analysis

5. Topics
Key topics in developing a national radon action plan / national strategy
Radon Policies and Strategies
Radon in Civil Engineering
Measurement of Radon
Radon Surveys
Radon Awareness
Education

6. Radon Policies and Strategies Does MS have a radon programme or RAP
2014
Yes – 10 MS
No – 18 MS
2017
Yes – 9 Member States (MS)
Planned – 6 MS (5 expected to be approved late 2017/early 2018)
No – 12 MS (2 currently under development, 1 requested expert mission to assist, 1 to be developed as part of new strategy under development, 1 to be developed under cooperation agreement with IAEA)

7. Radon Policies and Strategies Reference level for activity concentration
2014
Yes – 23 MS
Planned – 1 MS
No – 4 MS
2017
Yes – 22 MS
Planned – 3 MS
No – 2 MS
10 MS have changed value, or planning to change value, of reference level in past 3-4 years

8. Radon Policies and Strategies Progress on radon specific regulations
2017
14 MS have developed, or in process of developing, new Regulations over the past 3-4 years
The Regulations have been, or will be, brought into line with the requirements of GSR Part 3 (2011 interim edition, 2014 cosponsored edition) and EU Directive

9. Radon Policies and Strategies Radon prone area specified
2014
Yes – 8 MS
Planned – 1 MS
No – 19 MS
2017
Yes – 4 MS
Planned / under discussion – 6 MS
No – 17 MS
It appears that the development of new regulations has lead to some MS changing definition of “radon prone area”, and that decision still to be made in some MS.

10. Radon in Civil Engineering Are any radon related actions in civil engineering carried out in your country
2017
Yes – 10 MS
Planned – 3 MS
No – 14 MS
2014
Yes – 8 MS
Planned – 2 MS
No – 17 MS

11. Radon in Civil Engineering Member States with building codes / standard
5 MS
Belarus
Czech Republic
Estonia
Russian Federation
Slovenia
8 MS
Belarus
Czech Republic
Estonia
Kazakhstan
Lithuania
Russian Federation
Slovakia
Slovenia

12. Measurement of Radon Measurement devices, Metrology
2017
Passive detectors routinely available:
Cr-39, LR115, SSNTD; activity conc.; closed chambers – 18 MS
Charcoal canisters; activity conc.; closed chambers – 1 MS
No detectors routinely available – 8MS
How are measurements results used:
Mapping – 22 MS
Communication campaigns – 12 MS
Verification of corrective actions / preventive measures – 6 MS
Scientific research – 2 MS
Specification of radon prone area – 1 MS
No information provided – 3 MS

13. Protocols for measurement of radon/ radionuclides – soil gas, exhalation, water, b.m.
2017
Measurement protocol for measurement of:
Radon concentration in soil gas
Yes – 12 MS
Radon in water
Yes – 13 MS
Radon exhalation rate (RER) from building materials
Yes – 6 MS
concentration of radionuclides in building material
Yes – 14 MS

14. Radon Surveys
2014
Yes – 23 MS
Underway – 2 MS
No – 3 MS
2017
Yes – 25 MS
Planned – 2 MS
Large amount of work carried out over past 3-4 years reported:
National survey
Regional survey, as part of national survey to be completed
Targetted surveys e.g. kindergartens
Continuation of measurement programmes

15. Radon awareness 2014 Information materials developed 2017
Yes – 16 MS
Planned – 3 MS
No – 9 MS
2017
Information materials developed
Yes – 18 MS
No – 9 MS
Examples:
Brochures: Risk evaluation of the radon exposure.
Information about radon on internet web pages
Newspaper articles
Radon risk communication campaign
Basic information and guidelines leaflet on radon for the people involved in the national indoor radon measurements campaign
Internet sites for the radon professionals (radon forum) and public

16. Education 2014 Courses for professionals 2017
Yes – 6 MS
No – 22 MS
2017
Courses for professionals
Yes – 9 MS
No – 18 MS
One-off courses held in some MS in past 3 years
IAEA national workshops
For building professionals in 1 MS
For radon survey in 1 MS
STUK for measurement professionals in 1 MS

17. Education Field Belarus Czech R. Hungary Latvia Russian Federation
Serbia
Slovakia
Ukraine
Measurement of radon indoors
Yes
Planned
Measurement of radon in soil
Radon diagnostics
Measurement of radionuclide content in building materials
Measurement of radon exhalation rate from building material No
Measurement of radon (other natural radionuclides) in drinking water
Preventive measures in buildings
Corrective actions in buildings
Other – please, describe:      
Yes – labour safety
Yes - dose assessm’t

18. Have any activities under IAEA Technical Cooperation projects assisted in ….
Development of training material
Provision of courses / workshops
Expert missions
Provision of equipment / radon dosimeters for surveys
Regional projects (RER9127, RER9136) v. National projects
Training material developed for regional project used for national projects / expert missions
Information from RER9127/RER9136 used for planning education programmes in 1 MS

19. Have any activities under IAEA Technical Cooperation projects assisted in ….
Different interpretation of question
Some responses listed IAEA projects e.g. national projects
Some responses listed specific IAEA expert missions
Some responses listed equipment provided by IAEA
Some responses stated “Training courses have informed and educated”
One response stated “workshops very helpful to share ideas with other States”
One response stated “Information from workshops used for planning education of professionals”
Many responses stated “None” – I assume that the respondent interpreted question to mean has any direct assistance from IAEA been provided on the specific topic.

20. Conclusions (subject to different response to q’airre, 28 MS v 27 MS, different)
Number of MS with, or about to have, radon action plan (RAP) has increased from 10 to 15. Two MS have RAP under development, and 3 MS are seeking assistance to develop RAP.
10 MS have changed value of reference level in past 3-4 years.
14 MS have developed, or are in the process of developing, new regulations over past 3-4 years.
Fewer MS have a defined “radon prone area”. The definition is under discussion in several MS, and seems to be a difficult issue. What are the implications of the definition, and how are these being dealt with by MS.
18 MS have developed radon awareness materials.
9 MS have educational courses for professionals. These courses do not cover all professionals in each MS.

21. Issues for consideration
15 MS have, or are about to have, a radon action plan
BUT
Radon related activities in civil engineering carried out in 10 MS, and are planned in 3 MS. Only 8 MS have radon in building codes. How are civil engineering issues addressed in the radon action plan.
Education of professionals carried out in 9 MS. How is the issue of training and competence of measurement professionals and building professionals addressed in the radon action plan?

22. Next steps
Trevor Boal to finalise analysis of questionnaires and prepare first draft of report. I wish to clarify issues with participants this week. I still need to develop text for each topic and I would appreciate the views of the participants this week, particularly to issues identified.
Olga German to review draft report
Olga to circulate draft to national experts for comment
Olga to review comments and finalise report

23. Thank you