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This paper presents indoor radon concentrations and specific activities of natural radionuclides measured in soils of Kosovo and Metohija. The measurements of radon concentration were performed during two consecutive 6-month periods in two rooms of 63 houses using CR-39 detectors. The annual radon concentration ranged from 30 to 810 Bq m -3 with the average value of 128 Bq m -3 . Almost 15% of the houses had radon concentration higher than 200 Bq m -3 . The difference between radon concentrations measured in the two 6-month periods was analyzed, showing, as expected, a slightly higher radon concentration in the "winter period" than in the "summer period". The variation between different rooms of the same houses was also analyzed, showing that 20% of the dwellings had a significantly higher radon concentration (>100 Bq m -3 ) in one room compared to the other (the coefficient of variation ranged up to 96%). The specific activities of natural radionuclides in the nearby soil were determined by gamma spectrometry. The estimated average value (and standard deviation) of 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K specific activities were 32 (13), 35 (16), and 582 (159) Bq kg -1 , respectively. The correlation between indoor 222 Rn and 226 Ra content in soil was investigated. Only a weak correlation was found (Spearman's rho = 0.220) indicating that other factors might affect diffusion and accumulation of radon indoors, as confirmed also by the high variability between the rooms of the same houses.

This study presents the results of indoor radon and thoron activity concentrations of some municipalities in central and south part of Serbia: Krusevac, Brus, Blace and Kursumlija. Measurements were carried out in 60 dwellings during the winter season. Passive discriminative radon-thoron detectors known as UFO detectors were used. The mean values of indoor radon and thoron concentrations were 82 Bq m -3 and 42 Bq m -3 , respectively. Population-weighted mean values were 76 Bq m -3 and 40 Bq m -3 , respectively. 26.7% of dwellings had radon concentration higher than 100 Bq m -3 (one location had even more than 300 Bq m -3 ). There are no statistically significant correlations of indoor radon and thoron concentrations neither with the period of house construction, nor with the existence of a basement. The results of this study represent the first step of investigating radon and thoron levels in these parts of Serbia and therefore could be the basis for creating a radon map., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study was performed in order to investigate gamma dose rates, radon exhalation rates and soil radioactivity with respect to geology. Fifteen locations in three Serbian spas were under investigation. Gamma dose rate was measured by Radex RD1503+ monitor. GIS technology was applied for the interpretation of the results. HPGe detector was used for gamma-spectrometry determination of soil radioactivity. Radon exhalation rate was determined using RAD7 device. The correlation was examined between radon exhalation rate and 226Ra. No correlation was found between calculated effective dose from radionuclides in soil and measured ambient gamma dose rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measurements of radon activity concentrations have been conducted in public kindergartens, primary, and secondary schools in Kragujevac City. This study represents the first step towards radon mapping of Central Serbia. Passive discriminative radon/thoron detectors (so called UFO) were used for monitoring. The radon calibration coefficient of 0.026 (track/cm2)/(Bq m−3 day) was calculated by exposing the UFO detectors in a Rn chamber monitored by a RAD7 device. The Rn concentration was in the range of 27-145 Bq m−3 in kindergartens and 25-86 Bq m−3 in schools. The value of the arithmetic mean was 59.6 Bq m−3 and the standard deviation was 25.6 Bq m−3. The distribution of the results was well fitted by log-normal function. No significant correlation between measured activity concentrations and periods of building constructions was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]