Radon (Rn) is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, inert radioactive gas, and derives from the decay of uranium, which is a radioactive element that is found in small quantities in all sediments and rocks. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and theWorld Health Organization (WHO) classify Rn pollution as the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. Since Rn is present, in the depths of the Earth, in gaseous phase, it reaches the surface because it interacts with other natural elements, such as uranium, thorium and radio (precursor elements); moreover other geo-lithological features, such as the mineralogical composition of the rocks, the underground permeability levels, the presence of faults, fractures and cavities, affect the transport of the Rn on the surface. In this paper, the spatial distribution of the Rn concentrations in soil gas over a survey area located in the South of Apulian Region (Italy) and its prediction at unsampled points have been discussed. In particular, Ordinary Kriging (OK), Log-Normal Kriging (LK), Cokriging with indicator variable (ICK) and Kriging with Varying Means (KVM) have been used to predict Rn concentrations over the study area. In this context, the integration of a Geographical Information System (GIS) and geostatistical tools can certainly support the evaluation of alternative scenarios, possible strategies for a sustainable development.
Radon Risk Analysis Through Geostatistical Tools Implemented in a WebGIS
DISTEFANO, VERONICA;DE IACO, Sandra;PALMA, Monica;Spennato, A.
2015-01-01
Abstract
Radon (Rn) is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, inert radioactive gas, and derives from the decay of uranium, which is a radioactive element that is found in small quantities in all sediments and rocks. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and theWorld Health Organization (WHO) classify Rn pollution as the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. Since Rn is present, in the depths of the Earth, in gaseous phase, it reaches the surface because it interacts with other natural elements, such as uranium, thorium and radio (precursor elements); moreover other geo-lithological features, such as the mineralogical composition of the rocks, the underground permeability levels, the presence of faults, fractures and cavities, affect the transport of the Rn on the surface. In this paper, the spatial distribution of the Rn concentrations in soil gas over a survey area located in the South of Apulian Region (Italy) and its prediction at unsampled points have been discussed. In particular, Ordinary Kriging (OK), Log-Normal Kriging (LK), Cokriging with indicator variable (ICK) and Kriging with Varying Means (KVM) have been used to predict Rn concentrations over the study area. In this context, the integration of a Geographical Information System (GIS) and geostatistical tools can certainly support the evaluation of alternative scenarios, possible strategies for a sustainable development.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
