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Radon Protection in Austria

This article discusses radon protection in Austria, including radon mapping, strategies for existing and future buildings, and regulations for workplaces. It also covers the administrative structure and legal basis for radon protection in the country.

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Radon Protection in Austria

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  1. Radon Protection in Austria Christina Raith Austrian MinistryforSustainabilityandTourism Vienna, 15thofJanuary 2019

  2. Contents • Radon Mapping • Radon in Dwellings • Existing Buildings • Future Buildings • Radon at Workplaces • Radon Information

  3. Administrative StructureandCompetences in Austria Federal State: • i.a. healthmatters 9 Provinces • i.a. buildinglegislation DistrictsandMunicipalities • i.a. enforcementofbuildinglegislation

  4. Average Annual Radiation Exposurein Austria total 4,5 mSv

  5. Contents • Radon Mapping • Radon in Dwellings • Existing Buildings • Future Buildings • Radon at Workplaces • Radon Information

  6. Legal Basis § 38b StrSchG (Radiation Protection Act): since 2004, amended in 2015 • Collection of all available data on radon concentrations in dwellings (in a central database) • Creation of map material to show areas with elevated radon concentrations and information of the public • Recommendations on how to reduce radon exposure in dwellings • Development and regular update of a national radon action plan with the aim to reduce radon risk in dwellings 2006: Establishment of the National Radon Centre of Austria at the Austrian Health Agency (AGES)

  7. Radon Mapping - First Steps • 1990: 90/143/Euratom Recommendation • 1992: RecommendationbytheAustrian Radiation ProtectionCommission: • Reference levelforexistingbuildingsof 400 Bq/m³ • Design levelforplannedbuildingsof 200 Bq/m³ • Radon maptoshowradonproneareas in Austria • Guidelines forpreventiveandremedialactions • Informationofthepublic • Austrian National Radon Projekt (ÖNRAP) 1992 -2002 • Evaluation ofindoorradonconcentrations in Austria • Identificationofregions/areaswithelevatedradonlevels  Development ofthefirst Austrian radonmap

  8. Austrian National Radon Project (ÖNRAP) • Measurement ofindoorradonconcentration • Measurement density proportional topopulationdensity • Random selectionofdwellings (bytelephonebook/directory) • Twomeasurements in eachhouse/flat (in thetwomainlyusedrooms) • Questionnaire (properties/characteristicsofthehouse, habitsoftheresidentsetc) • Useof different measurementsystems • Short andlongtermmeasurements extrapolationtoannualmeanradonconcentration (incl. seasonalcorrection) • Resultsdepicted on a municipallevel

  9. Austrian National Radon Project - Results • Measurements in approx. 8.000 dwellings • Evaluation ofcriteriaassociatedwith high indoorradonlevels • Calculationofthe`radon potential´ : annually-averagedradonconcentration in a `standardsituation´ (commonroom on thegroundfloor, nocellar, not builtofstone, twoadults, lessthan 2 children etc.) • Radon potential of a municipality = averageofradonpotentialsof all measureddwellings in a municipality • Radon map: 3 classes informationaboutimportanceofmeasurements, recommendationsforpreventiveactionsorremedialactions (gradedapproach) • 500 municipalities in class 3 (elevatedradonpotentialsofabove 400 Bq/m³)

  10. First Austrian Radon Map (2004 – now)

  11. Online Query Link: www.radon.gv.at

  12. Radon Situation in the 9 Provinces Data fromtheAustrian National Radon Projekt (ÖNRAP) 1992 -2002

  13. Reasonsfor a New Austrian Radon Map Uncertainties in thecurrentradonmap: • Not manymeasurements per muncipality (approximately 3-5 houses/flats) • Different measurementsystems • Combination von shortandlongtermmeasurements • Geology was not takenintoaccount Aim: reliabledatabasisforidentificationof`radonareas´ (= areaswithhigherprobabilityto exceedthe national referencelevel)

  14. Radon Mapping Today • Measurement ofindoorradonconcentration all over Austria (individual measurementcampaignforeachprovince) • Aim: approx. 70.000 measurements(in 35.000 dwellings) • Conductedbythe National Radon Centreof Austria, funded by the BMNT • Start in 2014 • End ofmeasurements in 2019 • Modellingongoing • 2019: newradonmap (identificationofradonareas)

  15. Radon Mapping - Strategy • Measurement ofindoorradonconcentration • Selectionofdwellingswithregardtogridcells, geologyandmunicipalities(not weightedbypopulation) • Onemeasurementsystem (nucleartrackdetectors) • Measurement time 6 months(half summer, half winter) • Twomeasurements in eachhouse/flat (in thetwomainlyusedrooms) • Questionnaire (properties/characteristicsofthehouse, habitsofresidentsetc) • Measurements in homesofmembersofthevoluntaryfirebrigade (pros: manymembers, costefficient, hierarchicstructure, multipliers) • Participantsgettheresultofthemeasurement in theirhomes

  16. Radon Mapping – SelectionofHousesfor Measurement Housesofmembersofthefirebrigade 2x2 km grid Geological mapof Austria Municipalboundary (at least 12 houses/ municipality) Grid(2 x 2 km) 1-3 houses/cell – dependent on geologicalzonein thecell Geological units (1:500.000) House of a member Selected houses

  17. Exemplary Course of a Measurement Campaign • Initial contactwiththeprovinceandtheheadofthevoluntaryfirebrigade • Information ofthefirechiefsthroughtheheadofthebrigade • Austrian Radon Centreselectsapprox. 17 houses per municipalityfromanonymisedmembersdatabase (onlybycoordinates; accordingtoabovecriteria) • Residentsoftheselectedhomesconfirmtheirparticipation • Mailing ofdetectors, questionnaires, information material tothefirechiefschiefsdistributeamongmembers • Collection ofthedetectorsandquestionnaires after 6 monthsofmeasurement time bythefirechiefandreturnto Austrian Radon Centre • Data evaluation

  18. Impressionsof a Measurement Campaign

  19. Radon Mapping - Modelling • Aim: creationof a statisticalmodeltopredictindoorradonlevelin a `standardhouse´ in a certainarea • Evaluation oftheimpactof relevant factorson indoorradonconcentration, e.g. buildingcharacteristics: • Room/building in contactwithsoil, cellar • Year ofconstruction, constructionmaterial

  20. Radon Mapping: Outlook • New Austrian Radiation Protection Act: identificationofareaswheretheradonconcentration (as an annualaverage) in a significantnumberofbuildingsisexpectedtoexceedthe relevant national referencelevel(radonareas) • Customisedinformationmeasuresin the different areas • Different dutiesforaffectedgroups(gradedapproach) e.g. homeowners, peoplewhowanttobuild a house, companieswith ‚radonworkplaces‘

  21. Contents • Radon Mapping • Radon in Dwellings • Existing Buildings • Future Buildings • Radon at Workplaces • Radon Information

  22. Radon in Homes – ExistingBuildings § 38b StrSchG (Radiation Protection Act): • Creation of map material to show areas with elevated radon concentrations and information of the public • Recommendations on how to reduce radon exposure in dwellings  Technical Standards: • ÖNORM S 5280-1 (2017): Radon - Part 1: Metrological tasks and evaluation • ÖNORM S 5280-3 (2005): Radon - Part 3: Remedialmeasureson buildings • ÖNORM B 3692 (2014): Design and execution of waterproofing for buildings

  23. Radon in Homes – Existing Buildings • Informationaboutimportanceofradonmeasurements • Only a measurementcangiveinformationabouttheactualradonsituationin a room/building • Since 2014: BMNT bearsthecostsforradonmeasurements in private homesaslongasquestionnaireiscompletedanddatacanbeusedforradonmapping • Remedialactionsgenerallymore expensive thanpreventivemeasures (500 – 5.000 Euro) • Someprovincesprovidefundingforremediation in caseofveryhigh indoorradonlevels (> 1.000 Bq/m³)

  24. Radon in Homes – Existing Buildings

  25. Radon in Homes – Future Buildings § 38b StrSchG (Radiation Protection Act): • Creation of map material to show areas with elevated radon concentrations and information of the public • Recommendations on how to reduce radon exposure in dwellings  Technical Standards: • ÖNORM S 5280-1 (2017): Radon - Part 1: Metrological tasks and evaluation • ÖNORM S 5280-2 (2017): Radon - Part 2: Structurally engineered preventive measures for buildings • ÖNORM S 5200 (2009): Radioactivity in constructionmaterials • ÖNORM B 3692 (2014): Design and execution of waterproofing for buildings

  26. Radon in Homes – Future Buildings • Building lawiscompetenceoftheprovinces • Guidelines of the OIB (Austrian Institute of Construction Engineering) serve to harmonisethe construction engineering regulations around Austria  issued by the OIB and adopted by the provinces into their building law. • 2007: OIB guideline 3: roomsaretobeconstructed in such a waythattheuser‘shealthis not affectedbyionisingradiationfrombuildingmaterialsorradonemissionfromtheground (soil gas) • Adoptedby all provinces

  27. Radon in Homes – Future Buildings • Preventivemeasuresareeasy andcost-efficient. • Costforpreventivemeasure: 200-2.500 Euro (in thecourseof (re)constructionorgeneralrenovation) • Someprovincesprovidefundingforpreventivemeasures in casethehouseis in a class 3 area (radonmap)

  28. Radon in Homes – Future Buildings

  29. Radon in Homes – Future Buildings: Workshop forExperts

  30. Radon in Homes – Outlook • New Austrian Radiation Protection Act: national referencelevelforindoorradonconcentration: annualaveragedactivityconcentrationof 300 Bq/m³ • Further revisionoftechnicalstandards • Revisedversionofthe OIB guideline 3 • Intensifiedtrainingofbuildingauthorities, buildingexpertsandcivilengineers • Information, counselling, supportandfunding(?) forthepeopleconcerned

  31. Contents • Radon Mapping • Radon in Dwellings • Existing Buildings • Future Buildings • Radon at Workplaces • Radon Information

  32. Radon at Workplaces – Regulation and Standards §§ 36d -36f Radiation Protection Act and Natural Radiation SourcesOrdinance  Technical Standards: • ÖNORM S 5280-1 (2017): Radon - Part 1: Metrological tasks and evaluation • ÖNORM S 5223-1 (2007): Estimation of the dose due to work activities involving materials containing naturally occurring radionuclides - Part 1: Methods • ÖNORM S 5223-2 (2008): Estimation of the dose due to work activities involving materials containing naturally occurring radionuclides - Part 2: Dose evaluation • ONR 195223 (2009): Method for determination of the proportion of natural radon level (geogenic radon background) in the dose occurring during work with natural radioactive matter

  33. Radon at Workplaces - Introduction • Radon measurementsarerequired in • Workplacesin radonareas, thatarelocated on thegroundfloororbasementlevel • Specifictypesofworkplaces • Optimisation • Notificationwhenthe national referencelevelisexceeded (despiteoptimisationmeasures)

  34. Radon at Workplaces – SpecificTypesofWorkplaces • Council Directive 96/29/Euratom: work activities where workers and members of the public and exposed to thoron or radon daughters or gamma radiation • early2000s: Amendmentof Radiation Protection Act andnewNatural Radiation SourcesOrdinance (NatStrV) § 2 NatStrV -working areas with potentially increased exposures to radon-222: (a) installations for the extraction, treatment, storage, and distribution of water in which radon may emit from the water into the indoor air and in which at least one worker is present for more than 25 h per year; (b) underground working areas in mines, shafts, galleries, tunnels, and caves, if there is no ventilation complying with the state of the art and the legal requirements (c) mines and caves open to visitors; (d) radon spas and health resorts where at least one worker spends more than 120 h per year in areas where radon treatment takes place

  35. Radon at Workplaces– Regulation • National referencelevelforindoorradonconcentration in workplaces:  annualaveragedactivityconcentrationof300 Bq/m³ • Designation of‘radonareas’ • Workplaces in radon areas and ‘special’ workplaces throughout Austria (e.g. waterworks) equally regulated • Authorized laboratories provide support for companies and authorities: • Measurement of radon concentration • Dose estimation • Dose assessment

  36. Radon at Workplaces – Key Points • Radon concentration > referencelevel dose estimationandobligationfornotification • Effective dose below 6 mSv/a: • Informationoftheworkers • Effectivedose above6 mSv/a: • Dose assessmentforaffectedworkers • Radiation/radonprotectionmeasures • Radon protectionofficer(no permanent presencerequired) • Gradeddeadlinesforre-evaluation

  37. Radon at Workplaces – Outlook • Information andinvolvementofprovinces, stakeholdersandlobbies • Informationoftheaffectedcompaniesandorganisations • Transition periodafter radonareasareannounced • Transitionalprovisionsforthosecompanieswhowerewithinthescopeofthe NatStrV andwill beregulatedbythenewlaw

  38. Contents • Radon Mapping • Radon in Dwellings • Existing Buildings • Future Buildings • Radon at Workplaces • Radon Information

  39. Raising Awareness: Radon Risk Communication Not only informing the people but raising the public awareness which ultimately leads to actions Radon Risk Communication Strategy: • Communication goals • Key messages • Target groups • Communication channels • Evaluation ofeffectivenessandefficiency

  40. Raising Awareness • Target group specific information (for members of the public, authorities, building experts, and employers) • Provinces: organisation of seminars, information of authorities (f.e. mayors), provision of funding

  41. Raising Awareness • Cooperationwith civil protection associations • Linking with other important issues e.g. anti-smoking campaigns, (lung) cancer information, indoor air quality seminars

  42. Raising Awareness • Radon folders, articlesin magazines and newspapers • Internet and new media as a communication channel: interactive radon presentation, short radon video Homepage: www.radon.gv.at E-Mail: radonfachstelle@ages.at Telephone: +43 50555 41800

  43. Raising Awareness

  44. Positive ExperiencesandLessonsLearnt • Already many activities in Austria, lots of information available • Awareness: especially in the area of radon in dwellings people need to be motivated to put knowledge in action • Early involvement of and open and transparent communication with provinces, stakeholders etc.

  45. Thankyouforyourattention!Danke für Ihre Aufmerksamkeit! Christina Raith Austrian MinistryforSustainabilityandTourism christina.raith@bmnt.gv.at

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