Empowering communities: the impact of citizen science on radon measurement and mitigation

Radon exposure poses a significant public health risk, yet authorities often struggle to engage residents in high-risk areas to test and mitigate radon levels. Traditional top-down approaches have shown limited success in motivating citizen engagement in radon mitigation. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of citizen science (CS) approaches in enhancing radon measurement and mitigation efforts across Europe, with a focus on citizen engagement and impact of the RadoNorm CS incubator. To evaluate the impact of CS projects, a mixed-methods approach was used, including computer-assisted web interviews with 231 citizen scientists, interviews with seven researchers, and group discussions with ten CS coordinators. The CS evaluation method developed by Hoedoafia et al. (2024) has been used. The RadoNorm CS Incubator engaged over 800 citizens and 57 research organizations across the EU. Pilot CS projects related to radon in France, Hungary, Ireland, and Norway informed the design of an open call, resulting in the selection and funding of six CS projects related to radon in Italy, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain. The results show that these projects employed diverse methodologies to address specific community needs and improve radon awareness, measurement and mitigation strategies. The study highlights the successful outcomes of these projects, including the development of new radon dosimeters, innovative mitigation techniques, increased public awareness, improved local policies, and expanded school curricula. The findings demonstrate the potential of CS to enhance public engagement, improve risk communication, address research and scientific gaps and contribute to more effective radon protection strategies.