Spatial and temporal variability of radon and meteorological parameters in the dwellings of Villy

Abstract

Abstract Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer after smoking, and its concentration can reach critical levels when it accumulates inside a dwelling through pores and cracks connecting the basement to the living space. This concentration can be influenced by other factors, such as atmospheric parameters. The values of these variables were measured inside 21 dwellings in the village of Villy. These variables are measured using a corentium pro equipped with a silicon detector to quantify radon and four sensors to measure meteorological parameters and detect movement during data acquisition. Inside each dwelling, a short-term measurement is taken for 48 h. The results show that radon-222 concentrations ranged from $$\:\:13.4\pm\:5.4$$ to $$\:122.4\pm\:28.5\:Bq\cdot\:{m}^{-3}$$ , with an average value of $$\:45.15\pm\:12.80\:Bq\cdot\:{m}^{-3}$$ . The inside temperature ranged from 32.3 $$\:\pm\:$$ 0.5 to 38.8 $$\:\pm\:0.5$$ °C, with an average value of 36 $$\:\pm\:0.5$$ °C. Humidity ranged from 12.5 $$\:\pm\:1.1$$ to 40.4 $$\:\pm\:2.3$$ %rh, with an average value of 28.1 $$\:\pm\:1.8$$ %rh and pressure ranged from 97.3175 $$\:\pm\:1$$ to 97.7171 $$\:\pm\:1$$ kPa, with an average of 97.5350 $$\:\pm\:1$$ kPa. During the day, radon concentration is highest at 4 a.m. and lowest at 11 a.m. This concentration follows a two-way pattern. It increases between midnight and 7 a.m. and between 6 p.m. and midnight, then decreases from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. The spatiotemporal distribution reveals that atmospheric parameters influence radon concentration. A decrease in temperature corresponds to an increase in humidity and pressure, leading to an increase in indoor radon concentration. Conversely, an increase in temperature corresponds to a decrease in humidity and pressure, leading to a decrease in indoor radon concentration.