https://doi.org/10.1140/epjs/s11734-026-02402-y
Regular Article
Comparison of radon in karst area and area with clastic bedrock in Montenegro
1
Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts, R. Stijovića 5, Podgorica, Montenegro
2
Department of Physics, University of Osijek, Trg Lj. Gaja 6, Osijek, Croatia
3
Geological Survey of Montenegro, Naselje Kruševac bb, Podgorica, Montenegro
4
Centre for Ecotoxicological Research, Bulevar S. De Gola 2, Podgorica, Montenegro
5
School of Applied Mathematics and Informatics, University of Osijek, Trg Lj. Gaja 6, Osijek, Croatia
6
Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Montenegro, Dž. Vašingtona bb, Podgorica, Montenegro
7
Biotechnical Faculty, University of Montenegro, M. Lalića 15, Podgorica, Montenegro
a
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Received:
31
August
2025
Accepted:
18
May
2026
Published online:
2
June
2026
Abstract
Radon (222Rn) was measured in two geologically different rural areas in Montenegro. One of these areas is a karst region in western Montenegro, where the research was performed at 25 locations covering an area of approximately 800 km2. At the other rural area, with a clastic bedrock (sandstones and shales), which covers about 570 km2 in northeastern Montenegro, the research was conducted at 30 locations. At these 55 locations, the annual average indoor radon concentration (CRn,ind) was measured using passive devices with CR-39 detectors on the ground floors of primary schools or private houses. The construction characteristics of the surveyed buildings were also recorded. Radon concentration in soil gas (c) was measured near each building, at three points at a depth of 80 cm using the RM-2 measuring system. Soil permeability for radon gas (k) was also measured at the same three points using the RADON-JOK device. Based on these measured values c and k, the location’s geogenic radon potential (GRP) was calculated, and the corresponding radon index (RI) was determined. For the karst area, formed of limestone and dolomite as the bedrock, the following mean values (AM) and ranges (R) of the measured parameters were found: c: AM = 115 kBq/m3, R = (8.9–390) kBq/m3; k: AM = 153∙10–13 m2, R = (3.9–180)∙10–13 m2; GRP: AM = 130, R = 11–419; CRn,ind: AM = 977 Bq/m3, R = (219–2494) Bq/m3. For the clastic rock area: c: AM = 35.3 kBq/m3, R = (7.9–95) kBq/m3; k: AM = 114∙10–13 m2, R = (0.5–180)∙10–13 m2; GRP: AM = 32.4, R = 6.1–80; CRn,ind: AM = 148 Bq/m3, R = (32–398) Bq/m3. Pearson’s χ2 tests confirmed no statistically significant differences between the building groups in the two examined areas with respect to five construction parameters: building type (school or house), construction period, presence of a basement, presence of a filling under the building, and floor slab quality. However, significant differences were observed in the following parameters: number of floors, outer wall material, and window frames. Amongst these three parameters, from the perspective of radon migration, only the window frames have a significant impact on radon levels in ground-floor rooms. Therefore, the two groups of buildings are suitable for comparing the influence of geological bedrock on radon concentrations in the ground floors of buildings. To compare the values of parameters c, k, GRP, and CRn,ind for the two types of bedrocks (limestone/dolomite and sandstone/shale), descriptive statistics of the measurement results, box–whisker diagrams, and the non-parametric Mann–Whitney U test were used. The analysis clearly shows that the differences in the values of each of these parameters are statistically significant concerning the bedrock type, with values being significantly higher at karst locations than at clastic rock locations. The linear regression model for indoor radon concentrations in 55 investigated buildings, using only 4 variables (type of bedrock, material of outer walls, material of window frames, floor slab quality), shows very good characteristics: adj R2 = 0.73, AIC = 112.7, BIC = 126.8.
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Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
