Marta Fuente Lastra

Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et l'Environnement | LSCE · ICOS-ATC

Introduction The intercomparison exercises and proficiency tests (PTs) are very important for the laboratories. These tests are the most used methods to assess the accuracy of the analytical data produced. At the same time, they are a requirement for the laboratories which have ISO 17025 and quality assurance systems implemented. The gross alpha-be...

Interlaboratory exercises are a good tool to compare the response of different systems to the same quantity and to identify possible inconsistencies between them. One of the main goals of the EMPIR 19ENV01 traceRadon project is to harmonize radon flux measurements based on different systems and methodologies. In the framework of the traceRadon Proj...

Background: A National Survey of Radon in Irish Schools was carried out by the Department of Education and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (formerly the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland) between 1998 and 2004. Then, a remediation programme was developed and implemented in the schools with elevated radon levels. Objectives: To...

There is strong evidence both internationally and in Ireland that the correct installation of passive prevention systems in new buildings is the most cost-effective way of protecting the population against radon. Previous work considering membranes, granular fill material in the aggregate layer beneath the slab and sump system has been conducted in...

http://www.epa.ie/pubs/reports/research/health/research332.html

Radon is a radioactive gas originating from uranium, present in all rocks and soils in the Earth's Crust; emanating from the ground, radon can be released into the atmosphere. It is the greatest source of natural radioactivity exposure for the population and, as declared by the World Health Organization (WHO), the leading cause of lung cancer only...

A one-year monitoring study was conducted in a pilot house with extremely high radon levels to investigate the ability and efficiency of radon mitigation by soil depressurisation (SD) both active and passive. The study included monitoring of radon concentration, pressure field extension (PFE) under the slab and some atmospheric parameters for diffe...

The purpose of this study is to investigate gas flow through different types of granular fill materials and soil by means of a series of experimental laboratory tests, in relation to soil depressurisation systems for radon reduction under buildings and the soil surrounding the foundation. Gas permeability characterisation of materials used as granu...

Radon monitor characteristics are important for any study involving continuous radon measurements. To assess quality of the measurements, calibration and verification periodic controls are necessary, normally evaluated by comparison to a reference device with known traceability to Rn-222 primary standards. The aim of this study is to benchmark rado...

The purpose of this paper is to benchmark several different radon monitors, by quantifying their accuracy and response time. Radon monitors with different characteristics were tested in a purpose-built radon chamber under reference conditions. The radon concentration in the chamber was controlled and maintained at a stable radon concentration of (2...

Using laboratory devices, soils and gravels are analyzed against airflow. Its parameters of permeability and the loss of load are studied in function of the distance traveled. The results are contrasted with simulated numerical models using finite element software. The aim is to find a correlation between both ways of study and their usefulness for...