Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Radon levels assessment in relation with seismic events in Vrancea region

  • Published:
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Due to the subcrustal earthquakes located at the sharp bend of the Southeast Carpathians, Vrancea zone in Romania has a high potential seismic hazard in Europe. Among several seismic precursors, radon anomalies in air, ground, and groundwater in the epicentral areas can be associated with the strain stress changes that occurred before and after earthquakes. In order to support this theoretical view, the main aim of this paper was to investigate temporal variations of radon concentration levels in air near the ground and in ground air by the use of solid state nuclear track detectors CR-39 and LR-115 in relation with some seismic events at two seismic stations Vrancioaia and Plostina, located in Vrancea active region. This paper reports essentially the observation of radon concentration levels in the air near the ground at 1 m height for the earthquakes that occurred during the period of November 2010–October 2011 and moment magnitudes M w in the range of \( 2.0 \le M_{\text{w}} \le 4.9 \). The average radon concentration in air above the ground measured with CR-39 detectors recorded for 1 year period in Vrancea area was 1,094.58 ± 150.3 Bq/m3 and 10 days fluctuations were placed in the range of 129 ± 40 Bq/m3 and 5,888 ± 700 Bq/m3. Also have been reported measurements of in soil radon concentrations in drill holes at 0.5 m depths during period of March 1977–October 1980, just after 4 March 1977, M w 7.4 Vrancea earthquake. The knowledge of air–ground–gas 222Rn anomalies is very important for earthquake pre-signals assessment as well as for precisely location of geologic active faults.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Yasuoka Y, Kawada Y, Nagahama H, Omori Y, Ishikawa T, Tokonami S, Shinogi M (2009) Phys Chem Earth 34:431–434

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Omori Y, Nagahama H, Kawada Y, Yasuoka Y, Ishikawa T, Tokonami S, Shinogi M (2009) Phys Chem Earth 34:435–440

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Smetanova I, Holy K, Muellerova M, Polaskova A (2009) J Radioanal Nucl Chem 283:101–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Igarashi G, Saeki S, Takahata N, Sumikawa K, Tasaka S, Sasaki Y, Takahashi Y, Sano Y (1995) Science 269:60–61

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Vinson DS, Vengosh A, Hirschfeld D, Dwyer GS (2009) Chem Geol 260:159–171

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. LaBrecque JJ, Cordoves PR, Rosales PA, Audemard F, Romero G (2001) J Radioanal Nucl Chem 250:239–245

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Yasouka Y, Ishikawa T, Tokonami S, Takahashi H, Narazaki Y, Sinogi M (2008) J Radioanal Nucl Chem 275:165–172

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Plastino W, Panza GF, Doglioni C, Frezzotti ML, Peccerillo A, De Felice P, Bella F, Povinec PP, Nisi S, Ioannucci L, Aprili P, Balata M, Cozzella ML, Laubenstein M (2011) J Radioanal Nucl Chem 288:101–107. doi:10.1007/s10967-010-0876-y

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Monnin MM, Seidel JL (1992) Nucl Instrum Methods A 314:316–330

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Virk HS, Singh B (1994) Geophys Res Lett 21:737–740

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. King CY, Koizumi N, Kitagawa Y (1995) Science 269:38–39

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Baykara O, İnceöz M, Doğru M, Aksoy E, Külahcı F (2009) J Radioanal Nucl Chem 279(1):159–164. doi:10.1007/s10967-007-7211-2

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Giammanco S, Imme` G, Mangano G, Morelli D, Neri M (2009) Appl Radiat Isot 67:178–185

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Raileanu V, Bala A, Hauser F, Prodehl C, Fielitz W (2005) Tectonophysics 410:251–272

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Matenco L, Bertotti G (2000) Tectonophysics 316:255–286

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Wenzel F, Achauer U, Enescu D, Kissling E, Russo R, Mocanu V, Musacchio G (1998) EOS Trans Am Geophys Union 79(48):589

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Bala A, Radulian M, Popescu E (2003) J Geodyn 36:129–145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Whittlestone S, Zahorowski W, Schery SD (1998) J Radioanal Nucl Chem 236:213–217

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Ghosh D, Deb A, Sengupta R, Bera S, Patra KK (2007) Radiat Meas 42:466–471

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Richon P, Bernard P, Labed V, Sabroux JC, Beneito A, Lucius D, Abbad S, Robe MC (2007) Radiat Meas 42:87–93

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Toutain J-P, Baubron J-C (1999) Tectonophysics 304:1–27

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Ghosh D, Deb A, Sengupta R (2009) J Appl Geophys 69:67–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Tsvetkova T, Przylibski TA, Nevinsky I, Nevinsky V (2005) Radiat Meas 40:98–105

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Wakita H, Nakamura Y, Notsu K, Noguchi M, Asada T (1980) Science 207:882–883

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Walia V, Su TC, Fu CC, Yang TF (2005) Radiat Meas 40:513–516

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Zoran M (1979) In: Cornea C, Radu I (eds) Seismological researches for Romanian earthquakes from March 4, 1977. Romanian Academy Press, Bucharest, pp. 447–452

    Google Scholar 

  27. Zoran M (2002) Rev Roum Geophys 46:111–118

    Google Scholar 

  28. Cicerone RD, Ebel JE, Britton J (2009) Tectonophysics 476:371–396

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Urbani F, LaBrecque JJ, Flores N, Cordoves PR (2006) J Radioanal Nucl Chem 269(1):187–193

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Dobrovolsky IP, Zubkov SI, Miachkin VI (1979) Pure Appl Geophys 117:1025–1029

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

This work was supported by the PN Program, Project: No. 09 27 01 03/2011-INOE of Romanian Ministry of Education, Research, Youth and Sport.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute of Research and Development for Optoelectronics, 409 Atomistilor Street, P.O. Box MG5, 077125, Magurele, Ilfov, Romania

    M. Zoran, R. Savastru & D. Savastru

Authors
  1. M. Zoran
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. Savastru
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. D. Savastru
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Zoran.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zoran, M., Savastru, R. & Savastru, D. Radon levels assessment in relation with seismic events in Vrancea region. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 293, 655–663 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-012-1712-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-012-1712-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation