Speakers
Description
Understanding the interaction between radon, its short-lived progeny, and respiratory protective equipment such as face masks (surgical and FFP3) is essential to improve the assessment of inhalation exposure in environments with elevated radon levels. In particular, distinguishing between the behavior of primary radon gas and particle-bound progeny is key to evaluating the effectiveness of face masks.
In a first phase, an experimental activity was carried out to demonstrate that primary radon gas is not adsorbed or retained by face masks. A controlled experimental setup was designed to assess radon adsorption using different types of masks. Measurements were performed using AlphaGUARD (Bertin Technologies) complementary radon detectors (RAD7, Durridge) operating simultaneously under controlled conditions, comparing concentrations measured with and without mask barriers. The results confirmed that radon gas concentration remains unchanged, validating that masks do not retain primary radon.
In a second phase, an experimental campaign is currently underway to investigate the behavior of radon progeny under controlled bunker conditions. Measurements are performed at constant ambient relative humidity, considering scenarios without aerosol generation and with induced aerosol production. For each condition, progeny concentrations are measured with and without face masks to evaluate potential retention associated with particle filtration.
This study provides a structured experimental framework to distinguish the behavior of radon gas and its progeny in relation to respiratory protection, contributing to improved understanding of exposure mechanisms in radon-prone environments.