scholarly journals General Overview of Radon Studies in Health Hazard Perspectives

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Guadie Degu Belete ◽  
Yetsedaw Alemu Anteneh
Keyword(s):  
Ionizing Radiation ◽  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Background Radiation ◽  
Noble Gas ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Health Hazard ◽  
Radioactive Decay ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
Human Respiratory Tract ◽  
Action Levels

The adverse human health effects due to ionizing radiation are well known. Radon is the major source of background radiation among those that are of natural origin. It contributes about 55% of the natural radiation dose to humans. It is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless radioactive noble gas that comes from the natural radioactive decay series of uranium. Radon can be found everywhere in the atmosphere and become attached to aerosols in the air. The aerosols carrying radon and its progeny can be inhaled and deposited in different regions of the human respiratory tract. The deposited radioactive aerosols continue to decay and exposing the lung to ionizing radiation can destroy sensitive cells in the lung, causing a mutation that turns to be cancerous. Different countries and international and national organizations put their action levels to reduce radon lung cancer risk. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends 148 Bq/m3 as the action level. On the other hand, International Commission for Radiation Protection (ICRP) recommends 200 Bq/m3 as the action level. The main objective of this review is to focus on how radon is established as a health hazard, ways of radon detection and measurements, methods of reducing and controlling high indoor radon concentration, and what are the recommended international action levels of radon concentrations. It mainly focuses on the health perspective of radon studies because it is now a crucial and hot issue in the world. In most developing countries like our country Ethiopia, radon studies are not well investigated.

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 Determination of radon levels in dwellings and social objects and evaluation annual effective dose from inhalation of radon in Stepnogorsk area Northern Kazakhstan

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 343-349
Author(s):  
D.S. Ibrayeva ◽  
M.N. Aumalikova ◽  
K.B. Ilbekova ◽  
M.M. Bakhtin ◽  
P.K. Kazymbet
Keyword(s):  
Effective Dose ◽  
Annual Effective Dose ◽  
Noble Gas ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Radioactive Decay ◽  
Annual Dose ◽  
Natural Radiation ◽  
Mining Sites ◽  
Decay Products ◽  
Activity Concentrations

Radon is a noble gas that is one of the natural radioactive decay products of radium resulting from the disintegration of uranium. Humans are exposed to sources of natural radiation activity, being radon and its progeny breathing air responsible for more than 50% of the annual dose received from natural radiation. The aim of this study was to determine the radon concentration in the air in settlements’ dwellings and social objects and calculate the annual effective dose of population from radon on the territory mining activities in Stepnogorsk area. The study has shown that activity concentrations of indoor radon in the buildings ranged from 8 to 870 Bq · m−3 in Aqsu, 3-540 Bq · m−3 in Kvartsitka located close to former gold mining sites. The Einh corresponding to the activity concentrations ranged from 1-27 mSv · y−1 received by the settlements’ public. The highest value of Einh in Aqsu School reaches up to 68 mSv · y−1 received by the critical group of public was found at the territory of former mining the Stepnogorsk area. The results of this study show significant radiation hazards in Aqsu School which located at the territory of former mining site, and there is evidence of radon health risk to the members of the public.

scholarly journals Radon Concentration Measurement in Groundwater of Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 396-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pankaj Garg ◽  
Gopal Krishan
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Activity Concentration ◽  
Noble Gas ◽  
Health Hazard ◽  
Protection Agency ◽  
Radon Activity ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Groundwater Samples ◽  
Fresh Water Resource

Groundwater is the largest fresh water resource and radon is a radioactive naturally occurring noble gas that may be found anywhere in soil, air and water due to decay of uranium in rocks. It is important to investigate the radon in groundwater to safeguard against the health hazard caused due radon. The results presented here are from radon concentrations measured using RAD7 detector in 9 representative groundwater samples collected from hand pumps from southern parts of Roorkee in Haridwar district of Uttrakhand. Radon activity concentration was found in the range of 0.55+0.22 Bq L-1 to 3.39+0.28 Bq L-1 with an average value of 2.16+0.37 Bq L-1. Radon values were compared with United State Environmental Protection Agency value of 11 Bq L-1. The radon activity trend was found within the permissible limit.

scholarly journals Measurement of indoor radon levels and assessment of radiological hazards at Al-Tuwaitha nuclear site and the surrounding area

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (35) ◽  
pp. 14-23
Author(s):  
Yousif Muhsin Zayir Al-Bakhat
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
Radiological Hazards ◽  
Nuclear Site ◽  
Effective Doses ◽  
Action Value ◽  
Surrounding Areas ◽  
Radioactivity Levels

In the present study the radon concentration was measured in indoor places by the RAD7 (radon detector) was in some locations at Al-Tuwaitha nuclear site and some surrounding areas for the duration from 13/10/2016 to 2/1/2017 and the measurement of the indoor radon concentration ranged from (4.96±4.4 to 102±25) Bq/m3. The high value of radon has been found at decommissioning directorate /emergency room, which is lower than the action value recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which is (148 Bq/m3) while the lowest value has been founded in central laboratories directorate \ models room. These values were used to calculate the annual effective dose and the health risks for cells bronchial which caused by the inhalation of radon. The values of the annual effective doses were calculated and ranged from (0.1249 to 2.5704) mSv/y these results are lower than the value of (10 mSv/y) recommended by the International Commission Radiological on Protection (ICRP). The results from this study shows that the region has background radioactivity levels within the natural limits.

scholarly journals Non-Uniformity of the Indoor Radon Concentration under a Convective Mixing Mechanism

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. 2826
Author(s):  
Sergey Spotar ◽  
Nurlan Ibrayev ◽  
Aigerim Uyzbayeva ◽  
Jamil Atabayev
Keyword(s):  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Radioactive Decay ◽  
Cfd Modeling ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
Convective Mixing ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics Cfd ◽  
Air Tightness ◽  
Transport Problems ◽  
The Impact

This paper focuses on the results of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling of radon concentration distribution in living areas within residences. The COMSOL Multiphysics® 5.3 software package has been employed for solving coupled momentum and species transport problems together with pseudo-reaction term modeling of the radon radioactive decay process. The reliability and verification of the simulation model was tested by comparing with available experimental data. The obtained results show the existence of stagnant zones where the concentration of radon is substantially higher than the average values. The impact of factors such as wind velocity, air tightness, and incoming radon flux were taken into consideration.

Indoor Radon Levels and Annual Effective Dose in Dwellings of Najran City, Saudi Arabia

2018 ◽  
Vol 786 ◽  
pp. 393-399
Author(s):  
Heba M. Badran
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Effective Dose ◽  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Annual Effective Dose ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Health Hazard ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
Study Region ◽  
Radon Measurements ◽  
The City

The main objective of this study is to assess the health hazard due to the indoor radon. CR-39 as time-integrated passive solid-state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs) were used in the indoor radon measurements of Najran City, Saudi Arabia. CR-39 detectors were distributed in dwellings of different places of the city. The detectors were exposed in the dwellings for two months and then etched in NaOH 6.25 N solution at 70 ±1°C for 5 h. This study revealed that the radon concentration in the dwellings ranged from 15.03±1.9 to 70.48±3.3 Bq m-3 with an average of 34.00±14.0 Bq m-3. Comparison of indoor radon concentration measurements in the different floors showed that the radon concentration in ground floors was slightly higher than that in first floors. Results showed that there is no significant health risk from indoor radon concentration and annual effective dose in the study region.

scholarly journals A simple model for the assessment of indoor radionuclide Pb-210 surface contamination due to the presence of radon

2013 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-72
Author(s):  
Dusan Mrdja ◽  
Istvan Bikit ◽  
Miroslav Veskovic ◽  
Sofija Forkapic ◽  
Natasa Todorovic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Radioactive Decay ◽  
Surface Contamination ◽  
Historical Period ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Retrospective Assessment ◽  
Concentration Changes

The presented, very simplified model provides a possibility for estimation of surface Pb-210 activity, depending on the changes of Rn-222 concentration during the long-term radon presence inside the closed room. This can be useful for retrospective assessment of the average indoor radon concentration for certain historical period, based on the surface contamination by the radionuclide Pb-210 in a closed or poorly ventilated room over a long period of time. However, the surface Pb-210 contamination depends on the pattern of radon concentration changes, and in this model is supposed that the change of indoor radon concentration, which periodically enters the room, is affected only by the radioactive decay and the inserted amount of radon in each entry. So, each radon entry can be comprehended as a ?net amount? of radon, or excess which remains inside the room due to radon?s periodical in-out flow. It is shown, that under the conditions of the model, the achieved average value of radon concentration of 275 Bq/m3, implies that the saturated surface contamination by the Pb-210 of 160 Bq/m2 after approximately 150 years.

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

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.

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