Use of field measurements in radon mapping in France

Field measurement campaigns are necessary when identifying radon affected areas. This paper describes the work done on the data from French campaigns; about 1700 measurements coming from 15 departments (French administration areas). The measurements were associated with a questionnaire designed to trace some of the factors that may influence radon concentration. Such factors (underground concentration of uranium and thorium, soil transfer, housing characteristics, life style of occupants, season) may interact in a complex manner and are not fully described by the parameters collected in the questionnaire (location of the village, building material of the house, age of the house, room designation and location, number of windows and doors, duration of heating during the measurement period, duration of the measurement, etc.). Various statistical models have been fitted in order to control these parameters when reconstructing standardised exposures. Methods and results are presented and the advantages and limitations of field measurements are discussed. (author)