Radon in schools of Montenegro.

This article focuses on the assessment of radon (^222Rn) levels in all public schools in Montenegro and the associated effective radiation doses to pupils and teachers. Radon concentrations were measured over a nine-month school year in 392 schools, revealing that nearly half of these schools have ground-floor rooms exceeding the recommended reference level of 300 Bq/m³, with about 11% of schools having rooms above 1000 Bq/m³. The study found higher radon levels in rural schools, older buildings, schools without basements, those with stone exterior walls, and schools with PVC or aluminum window frames. Estimated annual effective doses from radon inhalation average around 0.66 mSv for pupils and teachers but can reach up to 10–20 mSv in some classrooms, indicating a significant health risk and underscoring the urgent need for radon mitigation measures in Montenegrin schools.