1. INDOOR RADON DATA AND LUNG CANCER MORTALITY IN RADON PRONE – AREA ŞTEI - BǍIŢA (ROMANIA) Alexandra Dinu 1, Carlos Sainz 2, Constantin Cosma 1 1 Babes-Bolyai University, Faculty of Environmental Science, Cluj-Napoca, Romania 2 Faculty of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 6th Dresden Symposium HAZARDS – DETECTION AND MANAGEMENT, September 20 – 24, 2010 Dresden Germany

2. Noble gas Emisor alfa (5.49 MeV) ‏ T 1/2 = 3.82 d 222 Rn MAIN SOURCE OF RADIATION Soil Building Materials Water WHAT is Radon? Radon Sources and Transport Doza datorata Rn in lume: 1.2 mSv Average Annual Dose to ROMANIA Population (Cosma C., Dinu A., 2006) INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 6th Dresden Symposium HAZARDS – DETECTION AND MANAGEMENT, September 20 – 24, 2010 Dresden Germany

3. INTERNATIONAL RADON PROJECT (WHO, 2005 - 2009)‏ Relative risk of lung cancer versus radon exposure (Darby, 2006) S. Darby et al., British Medical Journal, 330, 2006 Ansambling 13 European epidemiological studies ( 7.150 cazuri + 14.400 controale ) Increase in risk of lung cancer: 16% per 100 Bq/m 3 95% CI (5, 31)‏ WE CAN QUANTIFY THE RISK ■ WE CAN QUANTIFY THE RISK : ~2% of total cancers [0.6 –1% of total annual deaths] and ~ 9% of global deaths from lung cancer ■ linear increase (without threshold) and synergism “smoking + radon” INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 6th Dresden Symposium HAZARDS – DETECTION AND MANAGEMENT, September 20 – 24, 2010 Dresden Germany The radon evidence … Radiation

4. ■ The time spent by residents in homes Normal Values: ■ Normal Values: 20 – 100 Bq/m 3 WHO 2009 20 – 100 Bq/m 3 WHO 2009 International regulations versus Romania Source: IARC INDOOR RADON EXPOSURE Main factors: INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 6th Dresden Symposium HAZARDS – DETECTION AND MANAGEMENT, September 20 – 24, 2010 Dresden Germany

5.  Nuclear track detectors CR 39  RadoSys2000 System (Elektronika, Hungary)  Radim 3A (Czech Republic)  Sarad DOSEman-PRO Dosimeter (Sarad, Germany)  ECRS Radon Software (European Comission Radon Software) – radon risk  Databases : EUROCIM (European Network of Cancer Registry, IARC)- morbidity indicators  Standardized questionnaires- studies about population  Risk Assessment Methodology OUR LABORATORY OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 6th Dresden Symposium HAZARDS – DETECTION AND MANAGEMENT, September 20 – 24, 2010 Dresden Germany

6. RADOSYS SYSTEM for integrated radon measurements INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 6th Dresden Symposium HAZARDS – DETECTION AND MANAGEMENT, September 20 – 24, 2010 Dresden Germany

7. DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL INTERCOMPARISONS EXERCISES ■ in 2007 - 2010 at the National Institute of Radiological Sciences in Japan (NIRS) - Chiba ■ in 2008 - 2010 with Radon Laboratory of Cantabria University, Spain and Veszprem Laboratory, Hungary ■ in 2010 at RIM - Radon Intercomparison Measurement at Radon Reference Sites, Cetyne, Bohostice and Buk, Prague, Czech Republic Very good result with differences under 10% - confirms the reliability of measurements made in our laboratory INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 6th Dresden Symposium HAZARDS – DETECTION AND MANAGEMENT, September 20 – 24, 2010 Dresden Germany

8. Aritm. mean Geom. mean Geom. st. deviation Australia 11 8 2.1 Austria 99 15 NA Belgium 48 38 2 Canada 28 11 3.9 Czech Republic 140 44 2.1 Denmark 59 39 2.2 Finland 120 8 2.1 France 89 53 2.0 Germany 49 37 2.0 Greece 55 44 2.4 Hungary 82 62 2.1 Iceland 10 NA NA Ireland 89 57 2.4 Italy 70 52 2.1 Japan 16 13 1.8 Luxembourg 110 70 2 Mexico 140 90 NA Netherlands 23 18 1.6 New Zealand 22 20 NA Norway 89 40 NA Poland 49 31 2.3 Portugal 62 45 2.2 Republic of Korea 53 43 1.8 Slovakia 87 NA NA Spain 90 46 2.9 Sweden 108 56 NA Switzerland 78 51 1.8 United Kingdom 20 14 3.2 USA 46 25 3.1 Worldwide average 39 Sources: WHO (2007), UNSCEAR (2000), Billon et al. (2005) and Menzler et al. (2008). Current status of Indoor radon concentrations in OECD countries [Bq/m 3 ] Transylvania value calculated: 78 Bq/m 3 (preliminary)

9. DISTRICT NUMBER OF SURVEYED DWELLINGS ARITHMETIC MEAN [Bq/m 3 ] RANGE [Bq/m 3 ] SEASON OF MEASUREMENT Cluj 75012620-690 Winter-Summer Bihor (Stei)* 20912925-1005 Winter-Summer Bihor (Bǎiţa) 58024715-3998 All seasons Bistrita 1206918-293 Spring-Summer Sibiu 458615-234 Winter-Spring Alba 98727-303 Winter-Spring Total 1713124 15-3998 All seasons *excluding the highest values ■ TOTAL 2003-2010: 1713 RADON MEASUREMENTS BY TRACK DETECTORS CR-39 ■ 2009-2010: 389 RADON MEASUREMENTS WITH TRACK DETECTORS CR-39 ARE IN PROGRESS IN COUNTIES CLUJ, BISTRITA, ALBA, MURES In BIHOR district was identified a zone with the highest concentrations of radon Current measurements 2010 RADON MEASUREMENTS MAIN RESULTS FROM OUR SURVEY (2003-2010) ROMANIA - TRANSYLVANIA INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 6th Dresden Symposium HAZARDS – DETECTION AND MANAGEMENT, September 20 – 24, 2010 Dresden Germany

10. Ştei-Băiţa Uranium mine Area and surounding: some houses built by uranium waste from mines Baita Plai and Avram Iancu THIS ZONE WAS CATEGORIZED AS “RADON-PRONE AREA”, ACCORDING TO THE INTERNATIONAL CRITERIA FOR RADON EXPOSURE - ICRP 65 25% of annually lung cancer deaths can be attributed to indoor radon exposure INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 6th Dresden Symposium HAZARDS – DETECTION AND MANAGEMENT, September 20 – 24, 2010 Dresden Germany (C. Sainz and A. Dinu, 2009)

11. Integrated radon measurements: 2003 – 2009 64% of the measured values are significantly higher than the recommended level of 100 Bq/m 3 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 6th Dresden Symposium HAZARDS – DETECTION AND MANAGEMENT, September 20 – 24, 2010 Dresden Germany Nr of the investigated houses 580 A.M. [Bq/m 3 ] 247 Median [Bq/m 3 ] 116 G.M. [Bq/m 3 ] 121 G.S.D. [Bq/m 3 ] 2.26 Range (Min-Max) [Bq/m 3 ] 10 - 3998 % of the houses by radon concentrations between intervals [Bq/m 3 ] 0 - 9936 % 100 - 19934 % 200 - 39917 % 400 - 5994 % 600 - 7993 % 800 - 10002 % 1000 - 39884 %

12. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 6th Dresden Symposium HAZARDS – DETECTION AND MANAGEMENT, September 20 – 24, 2010 Dresden Germany LOG NONORMAL DISTRIBUITION of indoor Radon concentrations in Ştei-Băiţa Arithmetic mean = 247 Bq/m 3 580 detached houses (C. Sainz and A. Dinu, 2009)

13. Numerous studies worldwide have shown that radon, a natural radioactive gas that seeps into homes in some regions, is the second leading factor (after smoking) in causing people to develop lung cancer. This has now also been confirmed by a study carried out in Torrelodones, Madrid, and Stei, in Romania, by researchers from the University of Cantabria and the Romanian Babes-Bolyai University, and which has been published recently in the journal Science of the Total Environment. Study in Spain and Romania confirms radon as second leading cause of lung cancer El Pais, Medical News, Science News, Realitatea Net, Stiinta Azi, Adevarul, Ziua de Cluj Published: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 - 09:10 in Health & MedicineHealth & Medicine INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 6th Dresden Symposium HAZARDS – DETECTION AND MANAGEMENT, September 20 – 24, 2010 Dresden Germany Our article Comparative risk assessment of residential radon exposures in two radon- prone areas, Ştei (Romania) and Torrelodones (Spain), Carlos Sainz, Alexandra Dinu, T. Dicu, K. Szacsvai, Constantin Cosma, L. S. Quindós, Science of The Total Environment, Volume 407, Issue 15, Pg 4452-4460, 2009.

14. CONCLUSIONS From the indoor measurements, the Stei-Baita area can be categorized as “RADON- PRONE AREA”. (Over 64% of the measured values are significantly higher than the recommended level of 100 Bq/m 3 ). From the 580 measurements performed in houses, the trend of the results has a log normal distribution, caused by the two sources orf radon in these area: soil and normal building material, and the second uranium waste used in building constructions. Very good result with differences under 10% - confirms the reliability of measurements made in our laboratory. Based on preliminary soil radon measurements in Stei-Baita area (at the measured depth), the results show a high radon risk: 25% of annually lung cancer deaths can be attributed to indoor radon exposure. The critical situation requires that remedial actions must be taken into consideration. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 6th Dresden Symposium HAZARDS – DETECTION AND MANAGEMENT, September 20 – 24, 2010 Dresden Germany

15. SECTORAL OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME “ INCREASE OF ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS ” PRIORITY AXIS 2 – Research, Technological Development and Innovation for Competitiveness Operation 2.1.2: „ Complex research projects fostering the participation of high-level international experts” Project POS CCE ID 586 - SMIS 12487/ 160/ 15.06.2010 The European Regional Development Fund IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD: 15 JUNE 2010 - 15 JULY 2013 BUDGET: 1 200 000 EUR Objective: DEVELOPMENT OF EFFICIENT MITIGATION SOLUTIONS AGAINST POPULATION EXPOSURE TO RADON THROUGH INNOVATIVE RESEARCH WITH INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ■ the pilot house as a working prototype of a construction solution for protection against radon emissions ■ implementation of mitigation solutions in the 20 selected houses IMPLEMENTATION OF RADON REMEDIATION TECHNIQUES IN DWELLINGS OF BǍIŢA URANIUM MINE AREA/ IRART

16. Objectives: ■ to measure indoor radon and to evaluate population exposures and lung cancer mortality for the people living in Bǎiţa area, Transylvania, Romania ■ to implement remedial actions and mitigation techniques in affected dwellings ■ to integrate radon exposure of the public into the Indoor Air Quality legislation ■ to recommend a New Building Code and Regulations for building materials ■ to provide expertise in the field of radon measurements and mitigation at European standards INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 6th Dresden Symposium HAZARDS – DETECTION AND MANAGEMENT, September 20 – 24, 2010 Dresden Germany

17. EFFECTIVENESS OF REMEDIATION TECHNIQUES… Radon mitigation - existing buildings; Prevention - new buildings - Depressurization of air within the soil with central pipe - Radon barrier - a barrier to PREVENT the penetration of soil gas through any cracks in concrete slab INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 6th Dresden Symposium HAZARDS – DETECTION AND MANAGEMENT, September 20 – 24, 2010 Dresden Germany

18. Project Manager: Prof. Univ. Dr. Carlos SAINZ, CANTABRIA UNIVERSITY, Santander, Spain Co-Director of Project: Prof. Univ. Dr. Constantin COSMA, BABEŞ-BOLYAI UNIVERSITY, Romania Responsible of Project: Dr. Ing. Alexandra DINU, BABEŞ-BOLYAI UNIVERSITY, Romania CONTACT: www.irart.ro BABEŞ-BOLYAI UNIVERSITY Faculty of Environmental Science Fântânele 30, 400294 Cluj-Napoca Romania Tel: 004-0264-307030 Fax: 004-0264-307032 E-mail: sainzc@unican.es sainzc@unican.es constantin.cosma@ubbcluj.ro alexandra.dinu@ubbcluj.ro

19. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 6th Dresden Symposium HAZARDS – DETECTION AND MANAGEMENT, September 20 – 24, 2010 Dresden Germany THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION !