Last update on February 2019
The Radon Studies and Expertise Section (BERAD) is located in Fontenay-aux-Roses just outside Paris.
Context and research themes
Radon risk management is a major health issue in view of its carcinogenic nature, which has been recognized since 1987 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Radon is a radioactive gas coming from the decay of uranium in soil. The whole territory is therefore concerned, at more or less significant levels depending on their natural uranium content. This level can also be influenced by human activities related to past mining and specific industries. The recent change of the regulatory context has led to a strengthening of radon risk management methods in the field of workers and public health. BERAD is a major contributor in this management both nationally (through the national radon risk management action plan) and internationally through its contribution to European research programs. BERAD’s expertise in this field is based in particular on research activities concerning the behavior of radon and its descendants in soil, air and buildings and their measurement.
Research topics
BERAD’s main research activities concern:
assessment of radon exposure in buildings
measurement of radon and its progenies
phenomena of radon transport from the subsoil to the atmosphere and the interface with dwellings
development and maintenance of subsoil radon transfer simulation software
definition of potential radon sources and mapping at the scale of the metropolitan territory and overseas departments and regions
Research team
Géraldine Ielsch, Office Head
Claire Greau, Environmental Science Expert and Research Officer in radon mapping
Nahla Mansouri, Research Officer in radon transfer simulation
Nathalie Michielsen, Expert and Research Officer in radon measurement and its progenies
Laurent Destacamp, Risk Management Evaluation Officer- expert in assessment of radon exposure in buildings Database and transfer simulation software
Patrick Potard, Risk Management Evaluation Officer - expert in assessment of radon exposure in buildings
Caroline Vignaud, Risk Management Evaluation Officer
Facilities and techniques
- A metrology laboratory dedicated to radon issues in air, water and soil;
A calibration and instrument test bench for measuring the activity of radon and thoron in the air (
BACCARA)
A set of devices for continuous and integrated measurement of radon in different media (soil, air, water).
A calculation code (TOUGH2-Radon) allows the study of transient phenomena of radon transport in 3D in a porous or fractured medium.
Partnership and research networks
- Scientific and Technical Center for Building (CSTB)
- Henry Becquerel National Laboratory (CEA-LNE)
- Sofia University (SUBG)
- EURAMET
- ERA (European Radon Association)
- JRC (Joint Research Center - European Commission)
- European primary metrology laboratories: BEV-PTP (Austria), BFKH (Hungary), CMI (Czech Republic), IFIN-HH (Romania), PTB (Germany), STUK (Finland), VINS (Serbia), METAS (Switzerland)
- BfS (Germany)
- University of Cantabria
