A big research project has been funded by the European Union to investigate the effects of chronic exposure to low doses of radon and other natural occurring radioactive materials (NORM) on humans and the environment. The project is called RadoNorm and it involves fifty-six partners from twenty-two European countries. The E.U. has put up twenty-six million dollars for the project.
   The RadoNorm project received an initial twenty-one million dollars from the E.U. Horizon 2020 research and innovation program. It is scheduled to begin at the start of this month and continue until August 2025. Germany’s Federal Office for Radiation Protection is coordinating the project. Participants include Belgium’s Nuclear Research Centre (SCK-CEN); Finland’s Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority; France’s Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety; Sweden’s Radiation Safety Authority; and the UK’s Department of Health.
     All minerals and raw materials contain some radionuclides of natural origin. The biggest concern with respect to protection from naturally occurring radiation involves U-238 and Th-232 decay series. In most cases where human beings are dealing with minerals and raw materials, the amount of radiation exposure to these radionuclides is not much greater than normal background levels and there is no need for radiation protection. On the other hand, certain industrial activities can result in significantly enhanced exposures that may require official regulation.
     NORM can include all radioactive elements found in the environment, However, the use of the term is usually restricted to refer to all naturally occurring radioactive materials in which human activities have increase the exposure potential when compared to the unaltered situation. Long lived radioactive elements such as uranium, thorium, and potassium and any of their decay products such as radium and radon are examples of NORM.
     Industries which process NORM include
• the mining of any ores (uranium is already regulated),
• rare earths,
• thorium and niobium/tantalum ore extraction,
• oil and gas production,
• titanium dioxide pigment production,
• thermal phosphorus,
• zircon and zirconium mining,
• phosphate fertilizers,
• cement production,
• geothermal energy production,
• coal-fired power plants,
• phosphoric acid production
• iron production
• tin/lead/copper smelting
• ground water filtration facilities.
The RadoNorm participants say that that project is intended to initiate and perform research and technical development in support of E.U. member states, associated countries and the European Commission to implement the European Basic Safety Standards. The project will target all relevant steps of the radiation risk management cycle for radon and NORM exposure situations. RadoNorm aims to reduce scientific, technical and societal uncertainties by initiating and performing research and development activities. It will distribute the achievements of the project through targeted actions to the public, stakeholders and regulators.
     The project intends to map out radon and NORM exposures, develop new dosimetry techniques, evaluate impact on health and ecology, increase understanding of societal aspects and integrate uniform training into companies working with such dangerous minerals and raw materials.
      Tanja Perko is the project coordinator at SCK-CEN. She said, “The great strength of the RadoNorm project is the cross-pollination between numerous scientific disciplines. It brings together researchers from lots of areas: both in the natural sciences and in the social sciences.”