EU-STRA-Strålevern

Radon and other naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) are a constant source of concern in society, especially with regard to cancer risk. The new large EU project aims to increase our knowledge of these materials. The project is a major initiative with 56 partners from 22 European countries, including active contribution from 4 Norwegian partners. The EU radiological protection program has decided to support only one project in the period 2020 - 2025. The "RadoNorm" project will provide new knowledge about radon and materials with elevated content of NORM. This will be an important project for Norway, which has many areas with uranium-containing rocks and thus there is risk of radon entering into buildings. It is well known that radon increases the risk of lung cancer, but it is possible that other cancers can also be linked to radon exposure. NORM can also contribute to increased radiation doses. This is particularly true of NORM from mining areas, waste from non-nuclear industries such as oil and gas industry, and for areas in Norway with uranium and thorium-containing rocks. Although we know that interactions between radon and smoking increase lung cancer risk, we understand little about the interaction between radon, NORM and other stressors. This applies to both humans and other organisms. Moreover, there is also a need for better and more targeted communication about these risks with the actors that can potentially be affected by them.

New epidemiological data clearly demonstrate a statistically significant increase of lung cancer risk due to chronic exposure to indoor radon and its progeny at radon gas concentrations of about 100 Bq m–3. The BSS introduces a new radiation protection concept based on exposure situations. The new regulation asks for binding requirements to protect workers and the public against exposures to radon, thoron (including their progenies) and exposures to NORM. The implementation of new regulations and related guidelines must be based on scientific evidence, which is currently incomplete and partly missing. Many open questions remain regarding dosimetry, effects and risks of radon and NORM when occurring alone or in combination with other stressors. Also, the increased awareness of radon and NORM hazards calls for a better risk governance. RadoNorm aims to provide the required multidisciplinary knowledge basis and to significantly reduce scientific, technical as well as societal uncertainties in all steps of the radiation risk management cycle for radon and NORM exposure situations. The project aims to significantly reduce scientific, societal as well as technical uncertainties in all steps of the radiation risk management cycle for radon and NORM. At present, there is no umbrella framework for integrating all aspects of radon and NORM protection, including underpinning science, past experiences and societal needs that might be relevant for implementing effective practical actions to optimise protection of humans and the environment as well as to further develop them in an inclusive way. The overarching concept of RadoNorm is to forge a bridge from the scientific bases of radiation protection to targeted regulations with justifiable dose limits and the implementation of effective measures to improve the radiological situation where feasible and reasonable.