The project focuses on a variety of impacts and hazard-associated manifestations of radon gas. This divides into two overlapping areas of interest:
· radon as a health hazard
· recent European research has demonstrated that there is no 'safe' lower limit for radon exposure
· radon as an indicator of crustal processes and geohazards
· understanding the behaviour and drivers of radon gas is very important and helpful for hazard planners, both concerning radon itself and using it as a possible earthquake / landslide / volcanic hazard monitor and precursor
By considering these, the project has a high headline potential for bringing together the dispersed research on radon hazard within interdisciplinary context and facilitating potential scientific advancement, involving:
· geological and environmental sciences
· medical sciences
· engineering and architecture
The project aims are to organise international and local/regional meetings and to generate and disseminate material for training courses. The project will also significantly promote international co-operation over and above formal meetings and benefit to society will be worldwide.
The project will include universities, governmental and non-governmental bodies, commercial companies and local councils - on a global scale. There are currently five universities/institutions from five countries involved, from which the co-ordinating group is drawn, with a people from universities/institutions in a further nine countries having expressed their intention to become involved. Intended activities and outputs are:
· NHESS special issue drawn from the 2009 EGU General Assembly launch session (in progress)
· websites at host universities/institutions
· oral and poster presentations and short-course at 2010 EGU General Assembly
· workshops and working groups at 2010 EGU General Assembly
· establishment of local / regional working groups
· student training program and instrument training
· meetings and published proceedings
· self-running PowerPoint slides
· and guidance notes in PDF form will be available on the website
· project book