Study: radon in urban areas

How do urban infrastructure and dense development influence the concentration of radon in residential buildings? The Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) is currently exploring this question in a study in the Bonn urban area.

Sachverständigenbüro Dr. Kemski is carrying out the study on behalf of the BfS.

Topic of study: Radon-Potenzial in urban areas

Since radon-containing soil air from the subsoil penetrates into buildings, radioactive radon occurs not only in the soil but also in all indoor spaces.

The quantity of radon that can escape from the ground and potentially enter the interior of houses is described by the "geogenic radon potential". The value of the radon potentials depends on the radon concentration in the soil air and how (gas-)permeable the soil is. This can vary on a regional and local basis, depending on the type of rock and soil, for example, and can be influenced by the weather.

What special features do densely populated urban areas exhibit with regard to radon potentials? How are radon concentration in the soil and indoors influenced by soil sealing, artificial infilling or even highways? The current study by Sachverständigenbüros Dr. Kemski aims to provide answers to these questions.

Study area: the city of Bonn

Study area: Bonn Source: travelview/Stock.adobe.com

The Bonn city area is being used as an example research region. Here, the radon concentration in soil is to be measured at various locations.

In addition, radon measurements in indoor air are planned in up to 1,000 households in Bonn.

For these measurements Sachverständigenbüro Dr. Kemski is seeking households from across the Bonn city area who would like to take part in the study free of charge and therefore learn about the radon situation in their house or flat.

Have radon measured free of charge in your own home in Bonn

The study is open to people who:

• live in the Bonn city area and
• would like to find out for free how much radon is present in their own home.

It is very easy to take part: simply visit the webseite of Sachverständigenbüros Dr. Kemski and sign up.

Radon measuring devices are small plastic boxes which can be placed all over the room.

Study participants receive the radon measuring devices and further documents free of charge by post. They install the measuring devices in their home in Bonn for a period of one year from winter 2024/25 as described in the documents. The measuring devices are small plastic containers that do not require electricity and that emit neither light nor sound. No home visits are carried out.

Of the website of Sachverständigenbüros Dr. Kemski, participants complete a short questionnaire, which asks for simple information about the building and the rooms in which the measurements will be taken.

After a year of measurements, participants will return the measuring devices in the winter of 2025/26 using the stamped addressed envelope provided. After the devices are analysed in the laboratory, participants will receive the results of the radon measurement for their house or flat. For the study itself, the measurement results will be used in anonymised form.