Seasonal correlation of indoor radon
concentration in towns of Northern Greece
Stelios Xanthos1, Fokion Vosniakos†
1. Department of Automation Engineering, Alexander Technological
Educational Institute of Thessaloniki
†. President of Environmental Committee of Alexander Technological
Institute of Thessaloniki and President of Balkan Environmental
Association (BENA)
Skopje,31. 03 - 01 .04 2016, University of St. Cyril and Methodius, Technical Campus
E-perm
(Long term measurements)
Radon Measurements
Skopje,31. 03 - 01 .04 2016, University of St. Cyril and Methodius, Technical Campus
Radon Measurements
Skopje,31. 03 - 01 .04 2016, University of St. Cyril and Methodius, Technical Campus
No of Measurements 15
Geometric mean (Bq/m3): 85
Arithmetic Mean (Bq/m3): 89±28
Max (Bq/m3): 161
Min (Bq/m3): 52
Radon concentration for summer period
(June 15-August 15) in Thessaloniki
(Bq/m3)
No of Measurements 21
Geometric mean (Bq/m3): 142
Arithmetic Mean (Bq/m3): 150±47
Max (Bq/m3): 258
Min (Bq/m3): 91
Radon concentration for winter period
(Dec14-March 15) in Thessaloniki
(Bq/m3)
Radon Measurements in Thessaloniki
Skopje,31. 03 - 01 .04 2016, University of St. Cyril and Methodius, Technical Campus
No of Measurements 17
Geometric mean (Bq/m3): 97
Arithmetic Mean (Bq/m3): 111±70
Max (Bq/m3): 280
Min (Bq/m3): 48
Radon concentration for autumn period
(Oct. 15-Dec. 15) in Thessaloniki
(Bq/m3)
No of Measurements 17
Geometric mean (Bq/m3): 78
Arithmetic Mean (Bq/m3): 81±21
Max (Bq/m3): 121
Min (Bq/m3): 41
Radon concentration for winter period
(Jan. 16-Feb. 16) in Thessaloniki
(Bq/m3)
Radon Measurements in Thessaloniki
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
0-40 40-80 80-120 120-160 160-200 200-240 240-280 280-320
Fre
qu
en
cy d
istr
ibu
tio
n (
%)
Radon Concentration winter and summer period 2015 (Bq/m3)
Skopje,31. 03 - 01 .04 2016, University of St. Cyril and Methodius, Technical Campus
Radon Measurements in Thessaloniki
Seasonal correlation
Skopje,31. 03 - 01 .04 2016, University of St. Cyril and Methodius, Technical Campus
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Rad
on
Co
ncen
trati
on
(B
q/m
3)
Serial Number of Measurement
June-Aug. 15Oct.-Dec. 15Jan.-Feb. 16
Radon Measurements in 2 storey-house
Thessaloniki
Skopje,31. 03 - 01 .04 2016, University of St. Cyril and Methodius, Technical Campus
0
50
100
150
200
250
Jan. 15 Mar-Apr 15 Oct. 15 Nov. 15 Dec. 15 Jan-Feb 16
Rad
on
Co
ncen
trati
on
(B
q/m
3)
Date of Measurement
Basement
Ground Floor
1st Floor
average
No of Measurements 14
Geometric mean (Bq/m3): 75
Arithmetic Mean (Bq/m3): 88±44
Max (Bq/m3): 165
Min (Bq/m3): 21
Radon concentration for summer period
(June 15-July 15) in Serres (Bq/m3)
No of Measurements 22
Geometric mean (Bq/m3): 81
Arithmetic Mean (Bq/m3): 97±55
Max (Bq/m3): 231
Min (Bq/m3): 21
Radon concentration for winter period
(Dec14-March 15) in Serres (Bq/m3)
Radon Measurements in Serres
Skopje,31. 03 - 01 .04 2016, University of St. Cyril and Methodius, Technical Campus
Radon Measurements in Serres
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
0-40 40-80 80-120 120-160 160-200 200-240 240-280
Fre
qu
en
cy d
istr
ibu
tio
n (
%)
Radon Concentration in winter period 2015 (Bq/m3)
Skopje,31. 03 - 01 .04 2016, University of St. Cyril and Methodius, Technical Campus
Radon Measurements in Serres
Seasonal correlation
0
50
100
150
200
250
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Rad
on
Co
ncen
trati
on
(B
q/m
3)
Serial Number of Measurement
summer June-July 15
winter Feb-March 15
Skopje,31. 03 - 01 .04 2016, University of St. Cyril and Methodius, Technical Campus
No of Measurements 14
Geometric mean (Bq/m3): 140
Arithmetic Mean (Bq/m3): 152±48
Max (Bq/m3): 333
Min (Bq/m3): 68
Radon concentration for summer period
(July-August 2014) in Drama (Bq/m3)
No of Measurements 13
Geometric mean (Bq/m3): 157
Arithmetic Mean (Bq/m3): 169±59
Max (Bq/m3): 263
Min (Bq/m3): 58
Radon concentration for winter period
(Nov-Dec 2014) in Drama (Bq/m3)
Radon Measurements in Drama
Skopje,31. 03 - 01 .04 2016, University of St. Cyril and Methodius, Technical Campus
Radon Measurements in Drama
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50-100 100-150 150-200 200-250 250-300 300-350
Fre
qu
en
cy d
istr
ibu
tio
n (
%)
Radon Concentration in summer period 2015 (Bq/m3)
Skopje,31. 03 - 01 .04 2016, University of St. Cyril and Methodius, Technical Campus
Radon Measurements in Drama
Seasonal correlation
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Ra
do
n C
on
ce
ntr
ati
on
(B
q/m
3)
Serial Number of Measurement
summer July-Aug 14
winter Nov-Dec 14
Skopje,31. 03 - 01 .04 2016, University of St. Cyril and Methodius, Technical Campus
Radon Measurements in Arnea (Chalkidiki)
Skopje,31. 03 - 01 .04 2016, University of St. Cyril and Methodius, Technical Campus
No of Measurements 6
Geometric mean (Bq/m3): 105
Arithmetic Mean (Bq/m3): 117±74
Max (Bq/m3): 267
Min (Bq/m3): 75
Radon concentration for summer period
(July 15-August 15) in Arnea (Bq/m3)
No of Measurements 10
Geometric mean (Bq/m3): 167
Arithmetic Mean (Bq/m3): 176±67
Max (Bq/m3): 341
Min (Bq/m3): 107
Radon concentration for winter period
(Jan 16-Feb. 16) in Arnea
(Bq/m3)
No of Measurements 9
Geometric mean (Bq/m3): 172
Arithmetic Mean (Bq/m3): 184±77
Max (Bq/m3): 338
Min (Bq/m3): 117
Radon concentration for autumn period
(Sept. 15-Nov. 15) in Arnea
(Bq/m3)
Radon Measurements in Arnea (Chalkidiki)
Skopje,31. 03 - 01 .04 2016, University of St. Cyril and Methodius, Technical Campus
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
0-60 60-120 120-180 180-240 240-300 300-360 360-420 420-480
Fre
qu
en
cy d
istr
ibu
tio
n (
%)
Radon Concentration winter period 2016 (Bq/m3)
Radon Measurements in Arnea (Chalkidiki)
Skopje,31. 03 - 01 .04 2016, University of St. Cyril and Methodius, Technical Campus
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Rad
on
Co
ncen
trati
on
(B
q/m
3)
Serial Number of Measurement
July-Aug. 15Sept.-Nov. 15Jan.-Feb. 16
Conclusions
Radon measuring technique used EIC (Electret Ion Chambers)
•Measurements in Thessaloniki (>30 dwellings) :
arithmetic mean : 150±47 for winter period 2015,
89±28 for summer period 2015,
111±70 for autumn period 2015,
81±21 for winter period 2016
•Measurements in Serres (>20 dwellings) :
arithmetic mean: 97±55 for winter period 2015,
88±44 for summer period 2015
•Measurements in Drama (14 dwellings) :
arithmetic mean 169±59 for winter period 2014,
152±68 for summer period 2014
• Measurements in Arnea (Chalkidiki) (12 dwellings) :
arithmetic mean: 117±74 for summer period 2015,
184±77 for autumn period 2015,
176±67 for winter period 2016
Skopje,31. 03 - 01 .04 2016, University of St. Cyril and Methodius, Technical Campus
Conclusions
•Max values > 200 Βq/m3, but only two houses above 300 Βq/m3,
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 2013/59/EURATOM
Article 74 The reference levels for the annual average activity concentration
in air shall not be higher than 300 Bq m –3
•Correlation of results is being observed depending on seasonal variations
of radon. In winter period, radon concentrations are higher than in summer
one
•House ventilation conditions play significant role in radon concentration
Skopje,31. 03 - 01 .04 2016, University of St. Cyril and Methodius, Technical Campus