RadonPotential: An interactive web application for radon potential prediction under different climates and soil textures

• Published in: Earth science informatics Vol. 17; no. 3; pp. 2775 - 2789
• Main Authors: Galiana-Merino, Juan Jose, Gil-Oncina, Sara, Valdes-Abellan, Javier, Soler-Llorens, Juan Luis, Benavente, David
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.06.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Applications programs; Climate and weather; Climate variations; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth science; Earth Sciences; Earth System Sciences; Geology; Health risks; Informatics; Information Systems Applications (incl.Internet); Lung cancer; Lung diseases; Meteorological data; Moisture content; Ontology; Radiation; Radium; Radon; Radon content; Radon levels; Simulation and Modeling; Software; Soil dynamics; Soil permeability; Soil profiles; Soil properties; Soil texture; Soil water; Space Exploration and Astronautics; Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics; Texture; Time series; Uranium; Water content; Geogenic radon potential; HYDRUS-1D; MATLAB Web Server; Indoor radon
• ISSN: 1865-0473; 1865-0481
• DOI: 10.1007/s12145-024-01311-9

The presence of radon in soil poses a significant health risk when it enters and concentrates indoors. The primary health problem associated with radon exposure is lung cancer, but it can also contribute to other respiratory issues. Estimating radon potential is a challenging task caused by the interaction of various environmental, geological, and variability factors. Although efforts are ongoing to improve radon potential assessment methodologies, there is a lack of software tools that estimate and model radon potential in different scenarios. The paper aims to develop a novel web-based software tool, RadonPotential, that predicts Geogenic Radon Potential by considering variations in climate and soil textures. The program runs using a constant radon concentration or estimates its concentration from the radium activity. RadonPotential calculates the transport of radon through a soil profile based on water content and soil texture. It also determines the dynamics of soil water content in different climates, incorporating long-term weather data under various climatic scenarios and local weather time series. The web-based format of the program increases its dissemination, usage, and manageability among a larger user base compared to an installable computer program. The program aims to provide a simplified and effective characterization of radon potential levels accessible to a wide range of scientists, technical experts and policymakers in developing strategies not only for radon measurement and mitigation buildings but also for developing more reliable large-scale radon potential maps.