Areas with radon potential in Vienna

Radon is a radioactive gas from the decay of uranium and radium naturally present in soil and rocks. By disintegrating, it forms solid descendants, themselves radioactive. These offspring can be attached to air aerosols and, once inhaled, deposited along the respiratory tract by irradiation. The areas most concerned correspond to the geological formations naturally richest in uranium. They are located on the large granitic massifs (Armoric Masif, Central Massif, Corsica, Vosges, etc.) as well as on certain black sandstones and shales. At the request of the Nuclear Safety Authority, the IRSN has drawn up a map of the radon potential of soils based on knowledge of the geology of France. This mapping determines the municipalities in which radon is most likely to occur at high concentrations in buildings. Municipalities are classified in 3 categories: — Zone 1: areas with low radon potential — Zone 2: areas with low radon potential but where particular geological factors can facilitate the transfer of radon to buildings — Zone 3: areas with significant radon potential