Making the invisible understandable: That is the goal of the Hessian Radon Center (HeRaZ), located at the Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen (THM). The radioactive noble gas radon occurs worldwide in the soil and can accumulate in buildings. It is considered the greatest environmental risk factor for lung cancer. The HeRaZ provides advice, raises awareness, and conducts research. The center's work has now been extended for another five years.
The HeRaZ (Hessian Radon Center) is a collaboration with the Hessian Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Viticulture, Forestry, Hunting and Home Affairs and works closely with the Hessian State Office for Nature Conservation, Environment and Geology. At the celebration marking the five-year extension of the programme at THM Technical University of Central Hesse), eleven newly trained radon specialists also received their certificates.
On behalf of the THMpresidium , President Prof. Dr. Matthias Willems welcomed the attendees: “I would like to sincerely thank the staff of the Radon Centre as well as the professors of the advisory board.” He also expressed his gratitude to the Ministry and described the collaboration as a “prime example of successful cooperation.”.
Kristine Exner, Head of the Department for Circular Economy, Immission Control and Radiation Protection, expressed her pleasure at the continued collaboration on behalf of the Ministry. She congratulated the radon experts: Radon protection is "a specialized field whose importance should not be underestimated. You are making a contribution to public health and environmental protection – the value of your work is obvious.".
The HeRaZ (Hessian Radon Center) is "the linchpin of Hesse's radon strategy," explained Managing Director Steffen Kerker. The team provides comprehensive information to the public about radon and offers advice on all questions related to the radioactive gas. "Radon is an issue that needs to be addressed at home," he explained.
In addition to private individuals, the team also advises companies and associations, such as waterworks and visitor mines, as well as government agencies. Their research activities include measuring radon concentrations in soil air (soil air measurement campaign) and indoor radon concentrations in private households (indoor measurement campaign) throughout Hesse. "Here, we not only collect radon measurements but also conduct surveys on the public's knowledge about radon," Kerker explained. With these activities, the HeRaZ (Hessian Radon Center) also makes an important contribution to knowledge transfer, which is of great significance for universities of applied sciences, Kerker emphasized.
Furthermore, the first training programme for radon specialists in Hesse was established at THM in recent years. This programme is unique in that it is integrated into the university curriculum: In an Elective module, students learn the physical, medical, and measurement fundamentals related to radon. In addition, future collaborations with other training providers are intended to leverage synergies.
With a total of eleven graduates, this year more experts are entering the field, for example in engineering and architectural offices or government agencies, where they will be available as competent contacts in the future to further minimize the risks of the radioactive gas.