ECO Certificazioni - Radon Concentration in work environments (Directive 96/29/EURATOM, D.L. 241/00)

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Radon Concentration in work environments (Directive 96/29/EURATOM, D.L. 241/00)

Why Radon is dangerous


	The International Commission for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified Radon and its decay products as carcinogenic substances of group 1 (gathering cigarette smoke, benzene, asbestos, and other 75 carcinogenic substances). Radon is considered to come in second, after smoke, in causing the onset of lung tumours. The higher the exposure to radon, the higher the risk of contracting the tumour. You can protect from Radon, but it is fundamental to assess precisely if you are or not exposed to the pollutant.

Radon Concentration in work environments (Directive 96/29/EURATOM, D.L. 241/00)

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	Radon is a radio-active natural gas. Colourless and odourless, it’s produced by the radio-active decay of radium, itself generated by the decay of uranium. These elements are contained in the earth’s crust in variable quantities. Radon’s main inflow into the environment is through soil, certain construction products (e.g. volcanic tuff) and in some cases water. Being a gas, Radon pours out of soil (or construction products and water) and disperses into atmosphere, but accumulates in enclosed environments.

Law requirements

At the moment the reference standards for the measurement of Radon are:

In residential buildings:
On a European level recommendation 90/143/Euratom dated 21/02/90 is in force, suggesting a threshold of intervention of 400 Bq/m³ for existing residential buildings, and 200 Bq/m³ for new ones (still at a planning stage). If exceeding, it is recommended to immediately take the necessary measures to reduce Radon concentration. In Italy there are still no limits on this matter.

In work environments:
In Italy, Decree n. 241 dated 26.05.2000 came into force on 01.01.2001 (published on the Official Journal - G.U. n. 203 of 31.08.2000 N.140/L), thus enforce Directive 96/29/Euratom dated 13.05.96 on health preservation for population and workers against the risk deriving from ionizing radiations, which on the matter of natural sources of radiations (e.g. Radon) asked member states to identify working activities at risk, to carry out adequate controls and to impose limits for work environments. D.L. 241 integrates D.L. n. 230 17.03.1995 (on ionizing radiations) by adding Head III bis and introducing articles from 10 bis to 10 octies so as to discipline, in order to protect the health of workers and when occurring population, working activities in which natural sources of radiation are present (particularly produced by the decay of Radon, Thoron or gamma rays).

Obligation addressees

Employers have the following obligations:

have exposure to Radon measured in work environments (when 3 sides of the rooms are below the ground level and with a permanency time above 10 hours/month).

request a technical report enlisting measurements results.

Measurements are made by leaving for 12 months passive trace detectors commonly known as Cr-39 (one every 50 m2 ) in environments to be tested. When the test period is over said dosimeters are analysed and Radon concentration values determined. All analysis on the dosimeters and concentration evaluations are carried out by a technician specialized in Radioprotection. If concentrations detected exceed the limits, the competent technician will advance a decontamination plan.

The solution


	ECO and its technicians can carry out air samplings with CR-39 traces detectors and scintillators in water and draw up reports by radioprotection experts.