Weather Impacts on Indoor Radon Short-Term Measurements in Switzerland

Article Article scientifique Article Weather Impacts on Indoor Radon Short-Term Measurements in Switzerland eng 2023-07-18 author Rey Joan Frédéric 855044 author Goyette Stéphane 0000-0001-5199-5974 647994 unités directement rattachées à la section de physique (FIRA) author Goyette-Pernot Joëlle 668215 1-15 1163 10.3390/atmos14071163 2073-4433 Radon is a natural and radioactively well-known carcinogenic indoor air pollutant. Since 2020, a radon short-term proactive methodology has been proposed by Swiss authorities, which aims to evaluate the probability of overpassing the national reference value. This study aims to assess the influence of different weather parameters on indoor radon levels monitored using this methodology. To this end, different statistical tools are used, such as correlations, auto-correlations, cross-correlations, and multiple linear regressions between meteorological parameters and indoor radon levels. We show a strong influence of weather conditions on indoor radon levels in occupied, but especially unoccupied spaces. Outdoor air temperature, followed by atmospheric pressure, was identified as the most significant parameter impacting indoor radon levels. Moreover, meteorological conditions monitored five days prior to the beginning of the radon measurements might affect radon levels. We come to the conclusion that it is of paramount importance to take these meteorological conditions into account when analyzing the results of short-term measurements, and more specifically, to consider the evolution of the weather conditions five days prior to the radon measurement. This paper helps to ensure the relevance of this short-term measurement method available in Switzerland. Radon Indoor radon levels Meteorological parameters Short-term measurements Switzerland Statistical analysis Public health Dewey 333.7-333.9 18 Institut des sciences de l'environnement 0DB false 803 Groupe Kasparian Atmosphere 14 7 472e3486-dcf9-4980-9f2f-c8353e90e351 Article (Published version) Public atmosphere-14-01163.pdf 1273168 application/pdf CC BY-4.0 8f153eec228c31f8b72b2c4b4216dbb09ddf748848d63276c992f10d65e89050 openAccess Centres et instituts / Institut des sciences de l'environnement

Title	Published in	Access level	OA Policy	Year	Views	Downloads

Weather Impacts on Indoor Radon Short-Term Measurements in Switzerland	Atmosphere			2023	120	289

Archive ouverte UNIGE

Goyette-Pernot, Joëlle