title: Indoor radon in the region of Brussels.
abstract: The indoor radon (222Rn) concentration has been measured by charcoal detectors in 278 buildings in the region of Brussels, Belgium. The correlation with the nature of the subsoil can be studied in detail thanks to the available geotechnical map. With a geometrical mean indoor radon concentration of 19 Bq m(-3), Brussels can be considered as generally unaffected by the radon problem. No value higher than 400 Bq m(-3) (the EU reference level for existing houses) was measured in an occupied room. However, two factors that may enhance the risk are identified: the absence of a basement or a ventilated crawl space, and the presence of loess, under the house. About one third of the houses without basements or ventilated crawl spaces built on loess show an indoor radon concentration above 200 Bq m(-3) (the EU reference level for new houses).
authors.affiliation: Industrial High Institute of Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tondeur
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gerardy
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Christiaens
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hallez
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Flemal
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor; D001530:Belgium; D005160:Facility Design and Construction; D055593:Geological Phenomena; D005844:Geology; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D011886:Radon / Q000032:analysis*; D012987:Soil; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D011886:Radon