IGCP Project 571: Radon, Health and Natural Hazards - Interim Report

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 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