PCI 2001 – 2002

(Uzgodniona latem propzycja programu)
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PCI 2002 – 2003

Warsaw University of Technology – Ecole des Mines de Nantes

The present document is the final description of the common PCI project for the year 2002 – 2003 between the Warsaw University of Technology (WUT) and the Ecole des Mines de Nantes (EMN). This document is based on the draft document pci_02_pl_01-01 and the outcome of a second discussion at the EMN the 12^th of August, with the participation of W. Peryt, B. Grambow and T. Kirchner.

The subject of the project is described, a sub-division in main tasks and a schedule are presented.

Subject :

Strategy for Radon dose assessment.

Description and context:

From the last year international project (WUT and EMN) data are available on the radioactivity in buildings due to the enhanced presence of Radon. To asses the health effect on the population exposed to high Radon concentrations it is necessary to determine the corresponding radiation dose. To convert a measured activity (Bq) to dose (Sv) is not straight forward in the case of Radon. Different aspects have to be taken into account and some of them are listed below :

Size of aerosols in the air (clean air, air with high dirt);
Radon in bound particles in the air;
Transfer of inhaled aerosols in the lungs;
Air flow and air circulation in the building;
Concentration of Radon in the drinking water;

Aim of the project

The aim of this project is to evaluated the dose due to Radon as a function of the different parameters of the system. Source information can be obtained from :

The last year project (description of the building, activity distribution, …);
The industrial project from R. LE MARCHNAD (Metrology of the solid radon descendants, …);
Computer code COMIS (Multizone air-flow model) from the IEA

A first step consists to make the link between air-flow and activity distribution taking into account existing and new experimental data and the modelling with the COMIS code.

In a second step the activity distribution has to be converted to dose.

Combining step one and step two the dose can be assessed as a function of air-flow conditions, revealing practical measures that could be taken in order to reduce the dose, if necessary.

In order to be more precise Radon concentration in water could be included in the study, requiring additional measurements and data analysis.

Major topics/tasks to be treated :

Period I : September 02 – December 0

Action 1. (preparation)

EMN students make information available for WUT students (compile information from the last year project; industrial project form R. LE MARCHAND);

WUT and EMN students prepare the WEB site for information exchange

Action 2. (contact industrial partners)

WUT students get in contact with local (Polish) organisations working on Radon;
EMN students get in contact with local organisations (IRSN) working on Radon;

Action 3. (COMIS code)

WUT students work with the COMIS code and identify the needed input parameters for the simulations; They inform the EMN students;
EMN students deliver requested input parameters for the COMIS code;

Action 4. (radon measurement)

EMN students will perform new Radon measurements in the reference building and in the drinking water of the building;

Action 5. (dose assessment)

EMN and WUT students work on the conversion of activity to dose;

Action 6. (preparation)

WUT and EMN students prepare the work for the common week in January

Period II : Common week in January 03

Action 5. (during the common week) :

Based on the available information from the first part of the project the students will perform the parametric study with the COMIS code. The conclusion will be a more realistic contribution of radon to the overall exposure to natural radioactivity, based on a mathematical modelling of a given environment.

The common week will be held from Monday 6 to Friday 10 January 2003 in Warsaw.