Radon survey in Kalamata (Greece)

A national radon survey is still lacking for Greece. Some Groups have done several more or lesslocal or extended radon surveys and valuable experience has been gained (Anagnostakis et al.1996, Papastefanou et al. 1997, Louizi 1997). After the first preliminary survey done by ourgroup (Geranios et al. 1999) where 500 Kodak LR-115 etched-track detectors were placed inGreek schools and dwellings for one year, we continued indoor radon measurements by placingthe same amount of detectors in a restricted area, covering the city of Kalamata, which is situatedin the south of Peloponnese (a medium size city with 60000 of inhabitants). Although Kalamatawas not of a special radon interest, the local authorities insisted on knowing for their citizens thelevel of this natural radiation. Our intention was at first, to use a different method of organisationand distribution of the etched-track detectors from the previous one (Geranios et al. 1999)attempting mainly to acquire more reliable results and to collect as much as possible detectors.Secondly, it was of great importance to test the statistics of the indoor radon concentrations for arather small area and thirdly, to independently estimate the annual absorbed dose by children,taking into account both radon concentrations measured in their home and at school. The set ofdetectors readings (about 370), revealed, in general, lower values for Kalamata, compared withthe ones found in the preliminary radon survey in Greece and almost all concentrations were foundto be below the NRPB action level (200 Bq/m3).