Indoor radon levels: monitoring and mitigation

Radon is a naturally ocurring gas that is produced by minerals that are present in some terrains with particular lithologies. Its gaseous nature allows radon to penetrate building foundations and underground walls in contact with the surrounding terrain that produces this gas. In certain conditions (particularly when ventilation is poor), radon can accumulate inside buildings, reaching levels that may be high enough to pose a health risk to humans. Due to its radioactivity, it is considered as a carcinogenic agent, and is currently considered the second most important cause of lung cancer (after smoking). High indoor radon levels can be prevented by using radon mitigation solutions, such as radon barriers, which are materials with very low radon diffusion coefficients.
Some research was carried out for mapping indoor radon levels in the municipality of Cáceres (Extremadura). This research brought together expertise in Geology, Physics and Chemistry, as well as notions of Building Engineering to carry out the key tasks: selection of the lithologies to be studied and the buildings present in each zone, sampling of the air inside each building, determination of radon levels, and mapping and representation of the results.
On the other hand, parallel research was carried out in developing new materials that could be used in radon barriers. These radon barriers are building elements that isolate buildings from the radon that is produced by the surrounding terrain. Some materials are studied as potential additives that can reduce the radon diffusion coefficient of materials used for the barriers. Circular Economy has been very much taken into account during the selection of the additives to be studied (residues and renewable materials), with the aim of achieving radon barriers with low environmental impacts.