Use of Field Measurements in Radon Mapping in France

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Abstract
Field measurement campaigns are necessary when identifying radon affected areas. The campaigns involve consideration effort. Nevertheless the straightforward use of the results might be misleading and statistical analysis proves to be necessary. This paper describes the work done on the data from French campaigns; about 1700 measurements coming from 15 departments (French administrative areas). The measurements were associated with a questionnaire designed to trace some of the factors that may influence radon concentration. Such factors (underground concentration of uranium and thorium, soil transfer, housing characteristics, life style of occupants, season) may interact in a complex manner and are not fully described by the parameters collected in the questionnaire (location of the village, building material of the house, age of the house, room designation and location, number of windows and doors, duration of heating during the measurement period, duration of the measurement, etc.). Various statistical models have been fitted in order to control these parameters when reconstructing standardised exposures. Two goals were followed. First the analysis aimed at reconstructing an average exposure after correcting for seasonal variations and type of room. This allows an estimate to be made of an actual exposure, given the actual houses. A further analysis was then designed to estimate a potential exposure, that is the exposure that would be experienced in a standard house located in the same places as actual houses. The first estimate is necessary in risk assessment and in identifying the need for remedial actions. The second estimate is more useful when addressing policies dealing with new houses or in comparing exposures with soil characteristics. Methods and results are presented and the advantages and limitations of field measurements are discussed.

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