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Description
Radon is a radioactive gas that can be present naturally in environments either in the soil, dissolved in their waters or in the air phase of enclosed areas. In spaces with large bodies of radon-bearing water, the radon dissolved can be released from the water to indoor air. Due to the risks derived from the inhalation of radon and its progeny, radon levels must be controlled in areas with potential exposure. Environments including caves, thermal baths, spas or wastewater facilities, may pose a risk of exposure for occupants such as visitors or workers. Implementing protective and mitigation measures require the measurement and control of radon levels in each specific scenario, which are affected by radon transport mechanisms between phases. To date some studies have determined the radon transport velocity coefficient, however, the literature available remains limited. This work reproduces at laboratory scale an air/water system that emulates a real scenario that contains radon. The transport of radon is studied by mathematically modeling the radon transfer velocity coefficient based on experimental data from the aqueous and air phases. The study allows the characterization of the radon transfer velocity coefficient within a single control volume under two input conditions: continuous radon supply, as occurs in nature when water is in contact with radium-bearing rocks, and with no further radon input, as when the water is isolated from the source and radon remains only from prior dissolution. The analysis is conducted across three progressive stages: radon accumulation within the experimental system, establishment of dynamic equilibrium and radon decay following source removal. These results aim to contribute to the understanding of radon behavior, providing experimental data that may support the development of transport models and the subsequent control measures.