Some initial radon measurements were carried out in Peru in the 1990s, but this never developed into a national program. In recent years, there has been a strong interest in radon measurement in PUCP and this has been supported both technically and financially by IPEN. More recently, the Ministry for Health identified indoor radon as an important public health risk and the need for more information to quantify the extent of the risk. Peru also has a national plan [Plan Esperanza] to reduce the incidence of cancer throughout the country and reducing the risks from indoor radon is seen as a part of this program. Peru is divided into 24 regions (and the independent province of Callao). Each region is further divided into provinces. Eight of these regions have some high uranium potential zones. There is also extensive phosphate mining in the north of the country – uranium/radium/radon can often be associated with phosphate mining. For the purpose of the project, three separate regions were identified as being of interest: Lima – capital city with a high population and population density Arequipa – region with extensive volcanic rock formations (sillar) and a high interest in radon matters in the University of San Agustin Puno – rural region with high uranium concentrations in the surface soil and an indigenous population living in ¿adobe¿ homes – these are constructed using sun-dried mud block and normally have a tin or straw roof.

Estado DGI: Cerrado
Instituciones Investigadoras:
PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DEL PERU (PUCP)
INSTITUTO PERUANO DE ENERGIA NUCLEAR (IPEN)
UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE SAN AGUSTIN
Instituciones Financiadoras:
INSTITUTO PERUANO DE ENERGIA NUCLEAR - TRANSFERENCIA TECNOLÓGICA (Financiadora)
PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DEL PERU - Departamento Académico de Ciencias (Financiadora)
UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE SAN AGUSTIN - FACULTAD DE FÍSICA (Financiadora)
ORGANIZACION DE ENERGIA ATOMICA, VIENA - Division for Latin America and the Caribbean | Department of Technical Cooperation | (Financiadora)