This Safety Guide provides recommendations on meeting the requirements established in the IAEA International Basic Safety Standards, for protection of the public against exposure indoors due to natural sources of radiation. Guidance is provided on the application of the requirements for justification and optimization of protection by national authorities in considering control of natural sources of radiation indoors such as radon and radionuclides of natural origin in materials used for the construction of dwellings, offices, industrial premises and other buildings. The Safety Guide provides recommendations and guidance to be followed by the regulatory body and by other authorities and organizations with responsibilities in relation to exposure to radiation from natural sources.

"This Safety Guide provides recommendations on meeting the requirements established in the IAEA International Basic Safety Standards, for protection of the public against exposure indoors due to natural sources of radiation. Guidance is provided on the application of the requirements for justification and optimization of protection by national authorities in considering control of natural sources of radiation indoors such as radon and radionuclides of natural origin in materials used for the construction of dwellings, offices, industrial premises and other buildings. The Safety Guide provides recommendations and guidance to be followed by the regulatory body and by other authorities and organizations with responsibilities in relation to exposure to radiation from natural sources."--Publisher's description.

This handbook focuses on residential radon exposure from a public health point of view and provides detailed recommendations on reducing health risks from radon and sound policy options for preventing and mitigating radon exposure. The material in the handbook reflects the epidemiological evidence that indoor radon exposure is responsible for a substantial number of lung cancers in the general population. Information is provided on the selection of devices to measure radon levels and on procedures for the reliable measurement of these levels. Discussed also are control options for radon in new dwellings, radon reduction in existing dwellings as well as assessment of the costs and benefits of different radon prevention and remedial actions. Also covered are radon risk communication strategies and organization of national radon programs.--Publisher's description.

This publication presents a review of technical solutions providing both corrective actions and preventive measures to reduce the ingress of radon indoors. A description of methods, design and implementation of measures to reduce ingress of radon into buildings, and of the materials and equipment used in these solutions are included. The publication also presents methods for measuring gamma radiation from radionuclides in building and construction materials and for methods of reducing exposure due to this gamma radiation. Aimed primarily at building and construction professionals designing and installing radon preventive and mitigation measures, this publication will also be a useful resource for national authorities responsible for the development of national building codes and implementation of national radon action plans.

The naturally radioactive noble gas radon, (Rn-222), is present in the air outdoors and in all buildings, including workplaces. It is thus an inescapable source of radiation exposure both at home and at work. High radon levels in air can occur in buildings, including workplaces, in some geographical locations. This applies particularly in workplaces such as underground mines, natural caves, tunnels, medical treatment areas in spas, and water supply facilities where ground water with a high radon concentration is treated or stored. This report summarises the extent of current knowledge about the health effects of inhaled radon and its progeny and makes recommendations for the control of this exposure in both dwellings and workplaces. It aims to give guidance to national advisory and regulatory agencies and to practitioners of radiological protection concerned with radon in dwellings and workplaces. Once the decision to apply the Commission's system of protection is made, it becomes necessary to apply an exposure limit. This has been derived to correspond to the same level of detriment as that resulting from an effective dose equal to the Commission's recommended dose limit. Some additional guidance is given on practical control measures in workplaces. This publication includes a history of radon problems in mines and homes by Wolfgang Jacobi.