²²²Rn gas represents the major contributor to human health risk from environmental radiological exposure. In confined spaces radon can accumulate to relatively high levels so that mitigation actions are necessary. The Italian legislation on radiation protection has set a reference value for the activity concentration of radon at 300 Bq/m³. In this study, measurements of the annual radon concentration of 62 bank buildings spread throughout the Campania region (Southern Italy) were carried out. Using devices based on CR-39 solid-state nuclear track detectors, the ²²²Rn level was assessed in 136 confined spaces (127 at underground floors and 9 at ground floors) frequented by workers and/or the public. The survey parameters considered in the analysis of the results were: floor types, wall cladding materials, number of openings, door/window opening duration for air exchange. Radon levels were found to be between 17 and 680 Bq/m³, with an average value of 130 Bq/m³ and a standard deviation of 120 Bq/m³. About 7% of the results gave a radon activity concentration above 300 Bq/m³. The analysis showed that the floor level and air exchange have the most significant influence. This study highlighted the importance of the assessment of indoor radon levels for work environments in particular, to protect the workers and public from radon-induced health effects.

Different deformations for the two bands built above the (π${\mathit{h}}_{11/2}$ ${)}^2$ ${10}^{+}$ and the (ν${\mathit{h}}_{11/2}$ ${)}^{\mathrm{-}2}$ ${10}^{+}$ states in ${}_{}{}^{140}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Sm}$ have been determined from lifetime measurements using the reaction ${}_{}{}^{106}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Pd}$ ${(}^{37}$Cl,p2n${)}^{140}$Sm at 143 MeV. The β values derived for the N=78 and N=80 core nuclei, coexisting in ${}_{}{}^{140}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Sm}$, complete the systematics of nuclear deformation from N=72 to 80.

The study concerns the analysis of ²²⁰Rn (thoron) recorded in the surface soil in two sites of the Campi Flegrei caldera (Naples, Southern Italy) characterized by phases of volcanic unrest in the seven-year period 1 July 2011–31 December 2017. Thoron comes only from the most surface layer, so the characteristics of its time series are strictly connected to the shallow phenomena, which can also act at a distance from the measuring point in these particular areas. Since we measured ²²⁰Rn in parallel with ²²²Rn (radon), we found that by using the same analysis applied to radon, we obtained interesting information. While knowing the limits of this radioisotope well, we highlight only the particular characteristics of the emissions of thoron in the surface soil. Here, we show that it also shows some clear features found in the radon signal, such as anomalies and signal trends. Consequently, we provide good evidence that, in spite of the very short life of ²²⁰Rn compared to ²²²Rn, both are related to the carrier effect of CO₂, which has significantly increased in the last few years within the caldera. The hydrothermal alterations, induced by the increase in temperature and pressure of the caldera system, occur in the surface soils and significantly influence thoron’s power of exhalation from the surface layer. The effects on the surface thoron are reflected in both sites, but with less intensity, the same behavior of ²²²Rn following the increasing movements and fluctuations of the geophysical and geochemical parameters (CO₂ flux, fumarolic tremor, background seismicity, soil deformation). An overall linear correlation was found between the ^222−220Rn signals, indicating the effect of the CO₂ vector. The overall results represent a significant step forward in the use and interpretation of the thoron signal.

Using Monte Carlo (with Geant4) and COMSOL simulations, the authors have defined a useful tool to reproduce the alpha spectroscopy of ²²²Rn, ²²⁰Rn and their ionized daughters by measurement systems based on electrostatic collection on a silicon detector, inside a metallic chamber. Several applications have been performed: (i) simulating commercial devices worldwide used, and comparing them with experimental theoretical results; (ii) studying of realization of new measurement systems through investigation of the detection efficiency versus different chamber geometries. New considerations and steps forward have been drawn. The present work is a novelty in the literature concerning this research framework.

For a healthy indoor environment, it is important to understand which materials and factors favor the generation of high levels of indoor radon. A preliminary multivariate statistical analysis was carried out on two datasets concerning indoor radon and building materials in the Campania Region using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and the k-means partitional analysis technique. A total of 13 parameters related to building materials were used. The results show the greater contribution of building materials of volcanic origin to the concentration of indoor radon and thoron activity and the different influence of the parameters of the 31 materials analyzed. The same analyses applied to the indoor radon values of 694 rooms in the Campania Region were equally effective in assessing the structural characteristics of indoor environments that most influence indoor radon levels. The study provided an effective assessment of the influence on radon activity of several environmental parameters, which are often not adequately considered.

In this paper, an in-depth and systematic study of the radiological characterization of three types of Puglia region natural limestones (Pietra Leccese, Pietra Mazzara and Carparo) was carried out. The investigation was performed by XRF spectroscopy for a chemical analysis, and gamma spectroscopy of the specific activity concentration of natural radionuclides ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K. Although the limestone does not fall within the category included by Italian Legislative Decree 101/2020, the gamma index was calculated using the results of the gamma spectroscopy measurements. For Pietra Mazzara and Carparo stones, the gamma index was found to be less than the reference value; conversely Pietra Leccese was found to be higher. To obtain a more complete evaluation of the external exposure, radium equivalent activity and external radiation hazard were calculated for all analyzed stones. The results suggest the need to broadly consider the radiological risk for these stones, and for limestone more generally, when used as a building material.