Scientists study radon emissions level in Azerbaijan

Scientists of the Institute of Geology of the National Academy of Science together with the Institute of Applied Science of South Switzerland continue to study radioactive radon gas penetration level in Azerbaijani territories. Azerbaijan keeps on project on conducting researches directed for determination of level of radon gas.

According to the Institute of Geology, the project "Development of Azerbaijan’s radon cadastre, diagnostic of radon and reduction to minimum of the problems caused by it" has been implemented since 2010, with financial support of the Swiss National Scientific Fund.

According to Chingiz Aliyev, head of the project from the Azerbaijani side and chief of department of Gamma-spectrometry of geological environment, doctor of geological and mineralogical science, this gas is mostly produced by decay of radionuclide formed in the result of man-caused processes. Radon is also found in places of tectonic fissures in seismic areas. There are many places of this kind in Azerbaijan.  From these places radon penetrates into the basements and is accumulated there and on the first floors of the residential buildings.
At present, a new scientific-research technology for testing radon gas “Radon Scout Plus” has been brought to Azerbaijan.

The Radon Scout and the Radon Scout PLUS (with display) are accurate, rugged and easy-to-use continuous radon monitors for professional use. The Scout is well-suited for both short-term and long-term measurement of radon gas. It is an ideal radon data logger for both radon screening and for mitigation work.

It accurately measures radon gas levels, determines if radon levels are above or below recommended guidelines. In a radon inspection at a school or commercial building, Radon (chemical symbol Rn) is a naturally occurring radioactive gas found in soils, rock and water. It has numerous different isotopes, but radon-220, and -222 are the most common.
Radon causes lung cancer, and is a threat to health because it tends to collect in homes, sometimes to very high concentrations. As a result, radon is the largest source of exposure to naturally occurring radiation.


/AzerTAc/