Unveiling Radon Concentration in Geothermal Installation: The Role of Indoor Conditions and Human Activity

The naturally occurring radioactive gas radon presents a major public health danger mainly affecting people who spend time in poorly ventilated buildings. The periodic table includes radon as a noble gas which forms through uranium decay processes in soil, rock, and water. The accumulation of radon indoors in sealed or poorly ventilated areas leads to dangerous concentrations that elevate human health risks of lung cancer. The research examines environmental variables affecting radon concentration indoors by studying geothermal installations and their drilling activities, which potentially increase radon emissions. The study was conducted in the basement of the plumbing educational building at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki to assess the potential impact of geothermal activity on indoor radon levels, as the building is equipped with a geothermal heating system. The key findings based on 150 days of continuous data showed that radon levels peak during the cold days, where the concentration had a mean value of 41.5 Bq/m3 and reached a maximum at about 95 Bq/m3. The reason was first and foremost poor ventilation and pressure difference. The lowest concentrations were on days with increased human activity with measures that had a mean value of 14.8 Bq/m3, which is reduced by about 65%. The results that are presented confirm the hypotheses and the study is making clear that ventilation and human activity are crucial in radon mitigation, especially on geothermal and energy efficient structures.