Sharing the Best Practices in the Implementation of Radon Action Plan
RER 9153IAEA Regional Workshop
Radiation Protection Office Institute of Applied Nuclear Physics
Mirela Shijaku Kozeta Tushe
Velingrad, Bulgaria, 09-11 April 2019
ALBANIA
Outlines ….
• National Radon Action Plan, Roles and responsibilities.
• Main highlights of the RAP (what are the elements and measurable targets)
• Achievements of RAP.
• Challenges, lessons learned during the development and implementation of the RAP.
Velingrad, Bulgaria, 09-11 April 2019
Responsibilities to national authorities.
Radiation protection commission
Institute of Applied Nuclear Physic
Municipalities …Institute of
Geosciences,
Energy Water and Environment
Radiation protection office
Albania does not yet have a national radon action plan
• National Institutions chaired by The Radiation ProtectionCommission shall establish a national program addressinglong-term risks from radon exposure in dwellings, publicbuildings and workplaces.
• IANP, Institute of Geoscience IG, Albanian Geological ServiceAGS will identify the areas where the radon concentration(as an annual average) in a significant number of buildings isexpected to exceed the reference levels given in regulation.
• The information will send to RPO in officially.
• These responsibilities are dined clearly even at DCM no.957,date 25.11.2015 “On approval of regulation on reference levelsof indoor radon concentration …with public protection effect.
No clear picture yet..
Velingrad, Bulgaria, 09-11 April 2019
Organization in decision- making process regarding
1995 New framework Law No 8025 Regulatory Body RPC (duty and responsibility), Authorization , Inspection and Enforcement
2008 Amendments to the Law No 9973, date July 28-th 2008Security Issues , Regulations… Increase Independence of RPC
1996 July Established Radiation Protection OfficeExecutive Body
Velingrad, Bulgaria, 09-11 April 2019
DCM no.957,date 25.11.2015 “ On approval of regulation on reference levels of indoor radon concentration …with public protection effect
The object of the Regulations..
To define the reference levels for the concentration of radon in workplaces and dwellings
The annual average concentration of radon in the air inside workplaces shall not exceed300 Bq/m3.
✓ Radon measurements shall be performed by the natural or legal persons authorized,where has reasons to believe that workers or public are exposed to elevated indoorconcentrations of radon.
✓ The natural or legal persons shall present to RPC the methodology for performing themeasurements.
✓ When concentration inside the workplaces higher than 300 Bq/m3, the person authorizedto carry out the activity, shall take remedial measures to reduce the concentration of radoninside the workplaces
Velingrad, Bulgaria, 09-11 April 2019
Regulation ( cont`)
The annual average concentration of radon in the air inside residential and publicbuildings shall not exceed 300 Bq/m3.
Radon measurements shall be performed by the Institute of Applied Nuclear Physics(IANP), IG and other appropriate organizations relevant by RPC.
The organizations responsible for radon measurements shall present to RPC themethodology for performing the measurements.
In those areas where the annual average radon concentration in a significant number ofbuildings has been found higher than 300 Bq/m3, adequate remedial measures to reducethe radon concentrations shall be taken by the owners of the buildings.
RPC shall have the right to enforce the implementation of remediation measures.
Velingrad, Bulgaria, 09-11 April 2019
A multi-annual action plan
National Action Plan – Development Phases
7
Evaluation and Assessment
Policy and Planning
Implementation
• Reference level
• Technical standards
• Action areas
• Draft action plan
• Stakeholder
consultations
• Planning and co-
ordination
• Action delivery
• Research
• Communications
• Monitoring and
metrics
• Report and review
• Available data
• Targeted radon
surveys
• Radon map
• Risk assessment
• Existing legislation
• Resources
Velingrad, Bulgaria, 09-11 April 2019
First Phase
➢ Evaluation and Assessment
Available data
Radon map
Risk assessments
Legislation
Available.. at moment..
map
map
legislations
database
Soil gas
measurements
Velingrad, Bulgaria, 09-11 April 2019
Annual effective dose
Qarku Popullsia Nr Qytetet
%
banesa
(>200
Bq m-3)
CRn ERn
MG
(Bq m-3)
GSDMA±DS
(Bq m-3)
MG
(mSv y-1)
MA±DS
(mSv y-1)
Korçë 220357 73
Korçë,
Pogradec,
Devoll
25 148 1.5 160 ± 68 4.7 5.0 ± 2.1
Dibër 137047 8 Peshkopi 13 123 1.5 138 ± 54 3.9 4.4 ± 1.7
Kukës 85292 11Kukës,
Has9 100 1.5 123 ± 53 3.2 3.9 ± 1.7
Gjirokastër 72176 10Gjirokastë
r10 116 1.4 119 ± 42 3.7 3.8 ± 1.3
Tiranë 749365 65Tiranë,
Kavajë14 96 2.0 112 ± 83 2.2 3.5 ± 2.6
Shkodër 215347 30Shkodër,
Pukë- 89 1.8 93 ± 39 2.8 2.9 ± 1.2
Berat 141944 16Berat,
Kuçovë- 92 1.3 93 ± 22 2.9 2.9 ± 0.7
Fier 310331 25Fier,
Lushnjë- 84 1.3 90 ± 21 2.6 2.8 ± 0.7
Elbasan 295827 7Elbasan,
Peqin- 82 2.2 75 ± 49 2.6 2.4 ± 1.5
Durrës 262785 2 Durrës - - - 46 ± 5 - 1.5 ± 0.2
Preliminary assessment
• Dose calculation for each monitoredcities according the average radonconcentration.
• The annual effective dose variationfrom 1.5 mSv/y to 5.0 mSv/y.
Velingrad, Bulgaria, 09-11 April 2019
Next Steps…. is planned
Meeting with stakeholders for consolations
Stakeholders
Local authorities
Builders, architects,
Civil engineer
Universities Rn
measurement institutions
Health professionals
Velingrad, Bulgaria, 09-11 April 2019
Next Steps….
Evaluation data
✓Meeting with Expert group
✓Expert group report on what strategy might involve
The upcoming survey will be based on:
✓In regions with high population density
✓In areas with trend risk of radon
✓In school and workplaces
Velingrad, Bulgaria, 09-11 April 2019
Challenges,
• Communicating with health authority,
• The lack of statistics for lung cancer:
for smokers,
non-smokers,
• The lack of budget
Velingrad, Bulgaria, 09-11 April 2019
Communicating with local authority
Communicating with partners
Achievements of you RAP so far.
✓ Education of building professionals
• Are trained construction engineers, architect in Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism under theproject RER 9153 about remediation methods, and concrete results of action taken for radonmitigation inside different existing buildings, technical details of the application of elements andtheir types of materials.
• The information acquired in the training course has been transmitted to students through lecturesand other academic activities which very soon will be included in the course syllabus.
✓ Students Education
• We have established the module of radiation protection in Faculty of Natural Sciences forphysics students were involved and radon issue
Velingrad, Bulgaria, 09-11 April 2019
Lessons Learned
✓Education of politicians
✓ Education of media
✓ Raise public awareness
✓ Raise number of measurements
✓ Seek support from other relevantauthorities (health, environment, etc )
✓ Be enthusiast This process is longand require time
Media
Velingrad, Bulgaria, 09-11 April 2019
media and communication have a main role
Thank You !