Abstract
High indoor radon concentrations in a uranium-radium low-level area in the Eifel region, Germany, near the village of Döttingen are caused by ascending radon migration following the convection of groundwater and soil gas along pathways (fractures and faults) in the bedrock sediments of Lower Devonian age. Positive radon anomalies in the soil gas are found to coincide with the locations of houses showing the highest concentrations. These houses are older buildings without concrete foundation slabs. Normally radon concentrations in soil gas are highly correlated with the values of emanated radon calculated on the basis of radium content in the surrounding soils and rocks (diffusive radon potential). However, close to zones of tectonic fractures and faults around the maar-type volcano of Döttingen abnormally high radon concentrations, which were transported by circulating groundwater and postvolcanic exhalation of CO2 (convective radon potential) were detected.
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Keller, G., Schneiders, H., Schütz, M. et al. Indoor radon correlated with soil and subsoil radon potential—a case study. Environ. Geol. Water Sci 19, 113–119 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01797439
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01797439