APPLICABILITY OF VENTILATION SYSTEMS FOR REDUCING THE INDOOR RADON CONCENTRATION

2020 ◽  
Vol 191 (2) ◽  
pp. 202-208
Author(s):  
Martin Jiránek ◽  
Veronika Kačmaříková
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Ventilation System ◽  
Supply Rate ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
Building Ventilation ◽  
Ventilation Systems

Abstract An analysis is presented of the ability of balanced mechanical ventilation systems to reduce the radon concentration in residential buildings efficiently. The analysis takes into account the following parameters: radon supply rate into the building, ventilation intensity, required indoor radon concentration and energy consumption. It is shown that the applicability of ventilation systems is limited mainly by energy consumption. Ventilation systems can be considered energetically acceptable if the ventilation intensity does not exceed 0.6 h−1, i.e. radon supply rate should not exceed 60 Bq/m3h for a required indoor radon concentration of 100 Bq/m3. Energy consumption can be significantly reduced by operating the ventilation system in a cyclic mode. Simulating the behavior of ventilation systems in time has been found as a useful tool for their design. In order to express by one parameter energy consumption and radon reduction, a completely new quantity—the ‘radon-related energy need’ has been proposed.

scholarly journals A new approach to radon temporal correction factor based on active environmental monitoring devices

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Dicu ◽  
B. D. Burghele ◽  
M. Botoş ◽  
A. Cucoș ◽  
G. Dobrei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Smart Device ◽  
Correction Factors ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
Radon Measurements ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Monitoring Devices ◽  
Temporal Correction

AbstractThe present study aims to identify novel means of increasing the accuracy of the estimated annual indoor radon concentration based on the application of temporal correction factors to short-term radon measurements. The necessity of accurate and more reliable temporal correction factors is in high demand, in the present age of speed. In this sense, radon measurements were continuously carried out, using a newly developed smart device accompanied by CR-39 detectors, for one full year, in 71 residential buildings located in 5 Romanian cities. The coefficient of variation for the temporal correction factors calculated for combinations between the start month and the duration of the measurement presented a low value (less than 10%) for measurements longer than 7 months, while a variability close to 20% can be reached by measurements of up to 4 months. Results obtained by generalized estimating equations indicate that average temporal correction factors are positively associated with CO2 ratio, as well as the interaction between this parameter and the month in which the measurement took place. The impact of the indoor-outdoor temperature differences was statistically insignificant. The obtained results could represent a reference point in the elaboration of new strategies for calculating the temporal correction factors and, consequently, the reduction of the uncertainties related to the estimation of the annual indoor radon concentration.

scholarly journals INDOOR RADON MEASUREMENT IN FORMER URANIUM MINING REGIONS IN BULGARIA

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kremena Ivanova ◽  
Victor Badulin
Keyword(s):  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Uranium Mining ◽  
Open Pit ◽  
Open Pit Mining ◽  
Radiological Risk ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
Radon Measurement ◽  
Mining Sites

Radon exposure situations have the characteristics of existing exposure situations since the source is unmodified concentrations of ubiquitous natural activity in the earth’s crust. Human activities may create or modify pathways increasing indoor radon concentration compared to outdoor background. The mining and processing of uranium bearing minerals generate a variety of waste materials containing a number of radioactive and non-radioactive hazardous constituents. Conventional underground and open pit mining activities produce overburden, mineralized waste and barren waste rock, which are generally low in their uranium and thorium contents and are left at the mine site. The study focuses on regions of former uranium mining industries, where the radiological risk is higher. Methods: The cumulative (passive) method was used for the study. The measurements are carried out by E PERM® system. Detectors are placed for approximately 6 months in randomly selected houses in former uranium mining sites - Sliven-villages area, Eleshnica and Bachkovo. These sites are situated in mountains in different part of Bulgaria. Results: The results of indoor radon concentration for investigation villages range from 125 Bq/m3 to 4000 Bq/m3. The maximum concentration was measured in Bachkovo village in Rodopi Mountain. This village is the least affected by the former uranium mining industry. Conclusion: The results prove assumption that former uranium mining sites are radon prone areas where radiological risk is higher. The level of indoor radon of residential buildings in areas with higher uranium availability is around or above the recommended reference radon levels. The maximum value of the concentration of radon is measured in areas less affected by uranium mining, proving the necessity to undertake a radon national survey to determine exact radon prone areas. Key words: Radon concentration, long-term measurement, radon prone areas

Assessment of Annual Tracheobronchial Effective Dose from Indoor Radon Inhalation in Selected Residential Buildings in Southwestern Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 79-88
Author(s):  
Olukunle Olaonipekun Oladapo ◽  
Olatunde Micheal Oni ◽  
Emmanuel Abiodun Oni
Keyword(s):  
Effective Dose ◽  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
World Health ◽  
Reference Level ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
Effective Doses ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Radon Inhalation

Background and Purpose: Radon-222 is a major human health challenge among all sources of ionizing radiation. For most people, the greatest exposure to radon comes from homes and affects mainly the respiratory tract, especially the tracheobronchial region. This work assesses the annual tracheobronchial effective dose from indoor radon inhalation in residential buildings with different covering materials for walls, ceilings and floor using different dosimetric lung models. Method: A total of 180 residential buildings with commonest combination of covering materials in some cities in South-western Nigeria were investigated using an active electronic radon gas detector, RAD 7. The commonest combination of covering materials were (A): paint, paint, carpet; (B): paint fiber board, plastic tiles; (C): paint, fiber board, ceramic tiles for walls, ceilings and floors respectively. Result: The mean indoor radon concentration measured ranged between 23.08 Bq m-3 and 72.14 Bq m-3 for all the residential buildings investigated. Buildings with covering materials C, presented the highest radon concentration. Generally, the mean indoor radon concentration for all combinations of covering materials in all the cities investigated were found to be lower than the recommended action level of 200 Bqm-3 and the reference level of 100 Bqm-3 set by International Commission on for Radiation Protection and World Health Organization respectively. The annual tracheobronchial effective dose estimated for the different lung dose models ranged from 0.91 mSv – 3.27 mSv for combination (A), 1.00 mSv - 3.60 mSv for combination (B) and 1.09 mSv – 3.94 mSv for combination (C). It revealed that the more recent model gives greater value of the annual tracheobronchial effective dose. It was observed that only the annual tracheobronchial effective doses obtained by the James model presented values that are within the recommended ICRP intervention level of (3-10) mSvy-1. Other models gave values of annual tracheobronchial effective doses below the ICRP recommended intervention levels. Conclusion: These imply that all the residential buildings and the different combination of covering materials surveyed in this work will not pose any radiological hazard to the inhabitants. Key words: Indoor Radon Inhalation, Radon-222, annual tracheobronchial effective dose, residential buildings

scholarly journals Assessment of Indoor Radon Concentration in Residential Buildings at Ouagadougou and Estimation of the Annual Effective Dose

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 41
Author(s):  
Bambara Telado Luc ◽  
Kabore Karim ◽  
Derra Moumouni ◽  
Beogo Cedric ◽  
Ousmane Ibrahim Cisse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Effective Dose ◽  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Annual Effective Dose ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration

Distribution characteristics on indoor radon concentration of multiple-use facilities in Gwangju area

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min-jin Kim ◽  
Sang-su An ◽  
Min-cheol Cho ◽  
Se-il Park ◽  
Jong-min Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Distribution Characteristics ◽  
Multiple Use ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration

Indoor radon concentration in the rural dwellings of Chhattisgarh state (India)

2006 ◽  
Vol 119 (1-4) ◽  
pp. 434-437 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. S. K. Khokhar ◽  
R. S. Kher ◽  
V. B. Rathore ◽  
T. V. Ramachandran
Keyword(s):  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration

scholarly journals Seasonal indoor radon studies in buildings of Accra Metropolis of Greater Accra region of Ghana

2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 199-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Otoo ◽  
E.O. Darko ◽  
M. Garavaglia ◽  
C. Giovani ◽  
S. Pividore ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Strong Positive Correlation ◽  
Cumulative Frequency Distribution ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
Kolmogorov Smirnov ◽  
Greater Accra Region ◽  
Action Levels

Indoor radon concentration for annual, rainy and dry season have been studied in 228 buildings which includes bedroom, kitchen, sitting room, laboratories and offices in Accra metropolis of Greater Accra of Ghana. The passive radon CR-39 SSNTD was used for this study. The cumulative frequency distribution, normalizing Q-Q plots, Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk statistical test showed that the result of both workplaces and dwellings are not normally distributed. The strong positive correlation between the two seasons occurred at 95% confidence level with 2 tailed. The rainy season recorded highest coefficient variation of r2 = 0.982. Statistical analysis of median (39.3), AM (103.4), GM (57.9) and GSD (3.2) for rainy season were greater than that of the dry season of median (26.9), AM (88.2), GM (49.2) and GSD (2.8) respectively. Rainy season was found to contain high radon concentrations than the dry season for all the studied locations. In general, workplace had radon concentration far greater than dwellings. The results obtained from this study ranged between 13.6 to 533.7 Bq/m3, out of which 9.6%, 12.7% and 3.5% were found to be greater than action levels proposed by WHO, EC and ICRP.

scholarly journals Humidity-Sensitive Demand-Controlled Ventilation Applied to Multi-Unit Residential Building – Performance and Energy Consumption in Dfb Continental Climate

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerzy Sowa ◽  
Maciej Mijakowski
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Ventilation System ◽  
Residential Building ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Controlled Ventilation ◽  
Demand Controlled Ventilation ◽  
Continental Climate

A humidity-sensitive demand-controlled ventilation system is known for many years. It has been developed and commonly applied in regions with an oceanic climate. Some attempts were made to introduce this solution in Poland in a much severe continental climate. The article evaluates this system's performance and energy consumption applied in an 8-floor multi-unit residential building, virtual reference building described by the National Energy Conservation Agency NAPE, Poland. The simulations using the computer program CONTAM were performed for the whole hating season for Warsaw's climate. Besides passive stack ventilation that worked as a reference, two versions of humidity-sensitive demand-controlled ventilation were checked. The difference between them lies in applying the additional roof fans that convert the system to hybrid. The study confirmed that the application of demand-controlled ventilation in multi-unit residential buildings in a continental climate with warm summer (Dfb) leads to significant energy savings. However, the efforts to ensure acceptable indoor air quality require hybrid ventilation, which reduces the energy benefits. It is especially visible when primary energy use is analyzed.

scholarly journals Long-Term Impacts of Weather Conditions on Indoor Radon Concentration Measurements in Switzerland

Atmosphere ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 92
Author(s):  
Joan Frédéric Rey ◽  
Stéphane Goyette ◽  
Mauro Gandolla ◽  
Martha Palacios ◽  
Fabio Barazza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Indoor Environments ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
Prone Area ◽  
Building Characteristics ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
Radon Measurements

Radon is a natural and radioactive gas that can accumulate in indoor environments. Indoor radon concentration (IRC) is influenced, among other factors, by meteorology, which is the subject of this paper. Weather parameters impact indoor radon levels and have already been investigated, but rarely in Switzerland. Moreover, there is a strong need for a better understanding of the radon behaviour inside buildings in Switzerland for public health concerns as Switzerland is a radon prone area. Based on long-term, continuous, and hourly radon measurements, radon distributions classified according to different weather event definitions were investigated and then compared at three different study sites in Western Switzerland. Outdoor temperature influences the most indoor radon, and it is globally anti-correlated. Wind influences indoor radon, but it strongly depends on intensity, direction, and building characteristics. Precipitation influences periodically indoor radon levels relatively to their intensity. Atmospheric pressure and relative humidity do not seem to be huge determinants on IRC. Our results are in line with previous findings and provide a vivid example in Western Switzerland. This paper underlines the different influence complexities of radon, and the need to communicate about it within the broader public and with construction professionals, to raise awareness.

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