Mapping the exposure to outdoor radon in the German population

Introduction: Data on outdoor radon are generally scarce compared to indoor radon. However, knowledge of the spatial distribution of outdoor radon is necessary to estimate the overall exposure of the population to radon, it supports the prediction of indoor radon and characterizes the natural radon background. Germany has a comprehensive dataset on long-term outdoor radon concentration and the equilibrium factor at national level, which allowed to produce what is probably the only spatially continuous outdoor radon map at national level so far.

Data: In this study, outdoor radon concentration measurement data (n = 172) and equilibrium factors (n = 25) from a national survey from 2003 to 2006 were reanalyzed using state-of-the-art machine learning routines. Spatially comprehensive maps of distance to the sea, radon concentration in soil, sand content in topsoil and a terrain-based wind exposure index are used as predictors.

Methods: Quantile regression forest was used to map the conditional distribution of outdoor radon concentration at 500 m grid resolution. The equilibrium factor was mapped using a linear regression model. Both maps were combined to derive the equivalent outdoor radon equilibrium concentration. Population weighting of the results was achieved by explicitly accounting for the population distribution using a probabilistic sampling procedure from the estimated conditional distributions.

Results: The arithmetic mean and the interquartile range (25th to 75th percentile) for the population-weighted outdoor radon concentration for Germany are 9.3 Bq/m³ and 5.8 Bq/m³ to 11.2 Bq/m³, respectively. The mean equilibrium factor is 0.49. The arithmetic mean and the interquartile range (25th to 75th percentile) for the population-weighted outdoor radon equilibrium equivalent concentration are 4.7 Bq/m³ and 2.7 Bq/m³ to 5.9 Bq/m³ respectively. The estimated inhalation dose due to outdoor exposure to radon is 0.056 mSv/a (arithmetic mean), with less than 10 % of the population exceeding a value of 0.1 mSv/a. The unavoidable inhalation dose due to radon exposure (outdoors plus indoors) in Germany is estimated at an arithmetic mean of 0.37 mSv/a. The spatial distribution of radon outdoors is mainly determined by the distance to the sea. The predictors radon concentration in soil, sand in topsoil and wind exposure still have a significant influence, especially at local to regional level.

Conclusion: Knowledge about the spatial distribution of outdoor radon and its local variability for Germany was improved using a modern regression technique and relevant predictive information. The results confirm a low outdoor radon concentration with a small contribution to the effective dose received by the population from outdoor radon exposure.