Translating social science into policy : recommendations for managing societal aspects of radon and NORM

Perko, Tanja (author), Železnik, Nadja (author), Mihok, Peter (author)

This policy-oriented manuscript translates recent social science and humanities research (2020–2025) into evidence-based recommendations for policymakers managing societal aspects of radon and naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM). By bridging the gap between researchers and decision-makers, the work ensures that radon and NORM policies are informed by robust evidence, context-sensitive insights, and tested approaches. The recommendations are structured across nine key fields: (1) advancing citizen science initiatives; (2) strengthening evidence-based decision-making with quantitative data; (3) enhancing policy guidance through qualitative insights; (4) improving communication strategies on radon and NORM; (5) addressing societal complexities of radon spas; (6) managing social challenges of radiological risks in geothermal energy; (7) incorporating social considerations in regulation of NORM-containing building materials; (8) reducing societal uncertainties in remediation of NORM and legacy sites; and (9) promoting sustainable, circular approaches to radon and NORM management. The recommendations were developed through review of recent research and validated through broad stakeholder consultation. Together, they provide a comprehensive roadmap for integrating science into policy, fostering resilience, sustainability, and public trust in the governance of radon and NORM across Europe.

• Language: English
• Keywords: radon and naturally occurring radioactive substances, citizen science, community science, amateur science, communication, policy recommendations, radon management
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FDV - Faculty of Social Sciences
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: 15 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 291, art. 107859
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-177243
• UDC: 316.77:32:502
• ISSN on article: 1879-1700
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107859
• COBISS.SI-ID: 259840003
• Publication date in RUL: 18.12.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Journal of environmental radioactivity
• Shortened title: J. environ. radioact.
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 1879-1700
• COBISS.SI-ID: 23145989

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: radon, naravno prisotne radioaktivne snovi, državljanska znanost, skupnostna znanost, ljubiteljska znanost, komuniciranje, priporočila za politiko, upravljanje radona