Applied atmogeochemical surveyed to identify areas of radon risk in rural areas of Serbia

Abstract

Selected locations of increased content of natural soil radionuclides are located in promising zone of internal Dinarides. The main characteristic of this zone is containing a numerous bauxite deposits, which appear in Eastern Bosnia (Vlasenica bauxites), Western Serbia (Tara mountain, Poćuta, Mačkat), Southern Serbia (Grebnički bauxite) and in Macedonia and Greece. Deposits are rare and can be large. For research of nuclear and other deposits of mineral resources of Southern Serbia, Rn concentrations in soil in a field dominated by trachyte (upper column), granodiorite (Bujanovac), tuffs (Žbevac) and others, were measured. In the zones of anomalous concentrations of U, Th and K were formed gas scattering halos Rn in the soil, whose value were more than 42 Em in bauxites and in Gornja Stubla trachytes over 200 Em. In accordance with the lithological characteristics of the area, at some locations, Rn concentrations in houses were measured, in order to identify radon risk zones in rural communities. In certain residential buildings of "Gornja Stubla", measured Rn concentrations ranged up to 9000 Bq/L. According to the International Commission on Radiological Protection, the allowed concentration of Rn in the old houses ranged up to 400 Bq/L, and in new houses up to 200 Bq/L. Geo-ecological zones of natural radionuclides influence on the environment of rural settlements, can be determined, using atmogeochemical, geochemical and geophysical researches. Research results are presented with tables, diagrams and atmogeochemical maps of selected locations.