title: Implementation of the new international standards in Swiss legislation on radon protection in dwellings.
abstract: The current revision of the Swiss Radiological Protection Ordinance aims to bring Swiss legislation in line with new international standards. In future, the control of radon exposure in dwellings will be based on a reference level of 300 Bq m(-3). Since this value is exceeded in >10 % of the buildings so far investigated nationwide, the new strategy requires the development of efficient measures to reduce radon-related health risks at an acceptable cost. The minimisation of radon concentrations in new buildings is therefore of great importance. This can be achieved, for example, through the enforcement of building regulations and the education of construction professionals. With regard to radon mitigation in existing buildings, synergies with the ongoing renewal of the building stock should be exploited. In addition, the dissemination of knowledge about radon and its risks needs to be focused on specific target groups, e.g. notaries, who play an important information role in real estate transactions.
authors.affiliation: Federal Office of Public Health, Radiation Protection Unit, Berne 3003, Switzerland martha.palacios@bag.admin.ch.
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Palacios Gruson
authors.affiliation: Federal Office of Public Health, Radiation Protection Unit, Berne 3003, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barazza
authors.affiliation: Federal Office of Public Health, Radiation Protection Unit, Berne 3003, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Murith
authors.affiliation: Federal Office of Public Health, Radiation Protection Unit, Berne 3003, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Salome
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ryf
mesh_terms: D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D005060:Europe; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000592:standards; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006798:Housing / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000592:standards; D038622:Internationality; D008452:Maximum Allowable Concentration; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000592:standards; D011886:Radon / Q000032:analysis*; D013557:Switzerland
chemical_list: D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive; D011886:Radon