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Radon in the soil air in Germany
- In Germany, radon concentrations in the soil vary regionally.
- This is due to the fact that uranium and radium, during whose decay radon is formed, regionally occur in different concentrations and that the soil's permeability to radon also varies regionally.
- The BfS has created maps depicting the regional distribution of radon in the soil. No information on single buildings can ever be gained from the forecast maps but have to be measured in the respective building.
During the decay of uranium and radium, different amounts of which occur in all soils and rocks, radon is formed which propagates in the soil, finally reaching the surface.
As a result of leaks in a building, radon can get into the interior of buildings, accumulate there and cause lung cancer.
Measurement values and prognoses
How well radon can propagate in the soil, depends on its permeability to gas. Based on measurement values
- of the radon concentration in the soil air,
- the soil's permeability to gas
- and by means of geological maps
the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) has developed prognoses for the regional distribution of radon in the soil air. The maps
show in a coarse grid how much radon occurs in the soil or, respectively, to what extent radon can be released from the soil.
Map "Radon concentration in the soil"
The map "Radon concentration in the soil" shows in a grid of 1 x 1 kilometre how much radon occurs in the soil. It represents the 90th percentile of the expected radon concentration in the soil air. This means that in 90 percent of the cases, the radon value actually present in the soil is lower than or identical to the value indicated on the map. In the remaining 10 percent of cases it cannot be ruled out that radon levels higher than indicated on the map will be measured in the soil due to small-scale geological features.
Thus, the map provides orientation as to the regional distribution of radon in the soil air one metre below the earth's surface.
Estimation of radon activity concentration in soil air for a grid of 1x1 kilometre | Click on the magnifying glass to enlarge the map - zoomable representation in the BfS Geoportal specialist application: www.bfs.de/geoportal-radon
Prognosis by measurement data and relevant properties of the natural area
The map is based on data from measurements at altogether 6,239 geologically representative measurement points in Germany that took place between 1992 and 2020. Data originate from measurement programs of the BfS and the federal states.
The predictions were made with the help of machine learning, a sub-field of artificial intelligence (AI) in which algorithms recognise patterns and dependencies in data sets. For mapping the radon concentration in the soil, the measurement data of the approx. 6,000 measurement points were linked with local natural environment characteristics such as geology, soil properties, and climate.
The map shows the prognosis of the radon concentration in the soil air for the whole of Germany determined for a grid of 1 x 1 kilometre.
Specialist application BfS Geoportal shows radon concentration in the soil
BfS-Geoportal
The estimates of the radon concentration in the soil air determined for a grid of 1 x 1 kilometre, can also be accessed via the BfS Geoportal specialist application.
By opening the complex map application, you need to close the welcome screen. With the help of the magnifier icon at the top right you can zoom in and out of the map.
Help is available to operate the geoportal, which you can open by clicking on the question mark in the top right corner of the legend.
"Radon Potential" map
The amount of radon escaping from the soil and potentially entering the interior of houses, is referred to as "radon potential". The level depends on how much radon is concentrated in the soil and how permeable the soil is to gas. The "Radon Potential" map therefore also considers the soil’s permeability, in addition to the radon occurrence in the soil.
Prognosis of radon potential in Germany
Estimate by representative measurement data
Since not every square metre in Germany can be measured to determine its radon concentration and permeability to gas, the BfS has developed a method with the help of which the radon potential can be estimated for the whole German territory.
Between 1992 and 2020, the radon concentration in the soil and its permeability to gas were measured at approximately 6,000 measurement points in Germany. With the help of these values, the radon potential can also be estimated for the gaps between the measurement points.
For this purpose, the measured values were compiled in a map of Germany according to their geology. Subsequently, similar measurement results in neighbouring regions were combined into a single unit. By means of mathematical simulations, the resulting pattern was then analysed and refined for the gaps between the measurement points.
The method is based on procedures that are used in a similar form e.g. in resource exploration, where, based on only a few test drillings, conclusions are drawn e.g. regarding the metal content. In earthquake research, too, a potential earthquake risk of single regions is concluded from measurements and the knowledge of the geological condition of the subsoil.
Radon situation in situ can only be clarified by measurements
The maps "Radon concentration in the soil" and "Radon potential" map provide a first assessment of the radon situation in a region. The maps show in a coarse grid the regional situation to be expected.
The maps do not provide information about single buildings or plots since there may be strong local variations in the parameters used for the prognosis. They neither provide information about the radon concentration in the soil air at a given location (such as a building plot) - nor about the concentrations in a single house.
The actual level of radon at a given location can only be determined precisely by measurements of the near-surface air or by measuring the radon concentration inside a building.
State of 2024.04.10
