scholarly journals Short-Term Measurement of Indoor Radon Concentration in Northern Croatia

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 2341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Ptiček Siročić ◽  
Davor Stanko ◽  
Nikola Sakač ◽  
Dragana Dogančić ◽  
Tomislav Trojko
Keyword(s):  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Geometric Mean ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
Ground Floor ◽  
Northern Croatia ◽  
Radon Concentrations

(1) Background: Radon concentrations in the environment are generally very low. However, radon concentrations can be high indoors and can cause some serious health issues. The main source of indoor radon (homes, buildings and other residential objects) can be soil under the house, while other sources can be construction materials, groundwater and natural gas. Radon accumulates mainly in the lower levels of the buildings (especially low-ventilated underground levels and basements). (2) Methods: in this paper, we have measured the indoor radon concentrations at 15 locations in various objects (basements and ground floor/1st floor rooms) in the area of northern Croatia. (3) Results: the results show a higher concentration of radon in the basement area in comparison to values measured in the ground floor and first-floor rooms. The arithmetic mean (AM) and geometric mean (GM) of basement rooms were 70.9 ± 38.8 Bq/m3 and 61.2 ± 2.2 Bq/m3 compared to ground floor and first-floor rooms 42.5 ± 30.8 Bq/m3 and 32.8 ± 2.9 Bq/m3, respectively. (4) Conclusions: results obtained (AM and GM values) are within the maximal allowed values (300 Bq/m3) according to the Euroatom Directive. However, there are periods when maximum radon concentration exceeds 300 Bq/m3. Indoor radon concentrations vary with the occupancy of the rooms and it is evident that the ventilation has significant effect on the reduction of concentration.

scholarly journals Radon measurements with CR-39 track detectors at specific locations in Turkey

2004 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asiye Ulug ◽  
Melek Karabulut ◽  
Nilgün Celebi
Keyword(s):  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Active Faults ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
Arithmetic Means ◽  
Radon Measurements ◽  
New Buildings ◽  
Main Factor ◽  
Ventilation Conditions ◽  
Radon Concentrations

Indoor radon concentration levels at three sites in Turkey were measured using CR-39 solid state nuclear track detectors. The annual mean of radon concentration was estimated on the basis of four quarter measurements at specific locations in Turkey. The measuring sites are on the active faults. The results of radon measurements are based on 280 measurements in doors. The annual arithmetic means of radon concentrations at three sites (Isparta Egirdir, and Yalvac) were found to be 164 Bqm?3, 124 Bqm?3, and 112 Bqm?3 respectively, ranging from 78 Bqm?3 to 279 Bqm?3. The in door radon concentrations were investigated with respect to the ventilation conditions and the age of buildings. The ventilation conditions were determined to be the main factor affecting the in door radon concentrations. The in door radon concentrations in the new buildings were higher than ones found in the old buildings.

The Alpha Particle Doses Received by Students and Staff in Twenty Schools in the North of Hebron Region - Palestine

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 309-316
Keyword(s):  
Effective Dose ◽  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Annual Effective Dose ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Alpha Particles ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
The North ◽  
Cr 39 Detectors ◽  
Average Effective Dose ◽  
Radon Concentrations

Abstract: The aim of the current study was to measure indoor radon concentration levels and its resulting doses received by the students and staff in schools of the directorate of education in the north of Hebron region- Palestine, during the summer months from June to September (2018), using CR-39 detectors. In this study, a total of 567 CR-39-based radon detectors were installed in the selected schools. The average radon concentrations were found to be 90.0, 66.5 and 58.0 Bqm-3 in Halhul, Beit Umar and Alarrub camp schools, respectively. Based on the measured indoor radon data, the overall average effective dose for the studied area was found to be 0.31 mSvy-1. Reported values for radon concentrations and corresponding doses are lower than ICRP recommended limits for workplaces. The results show no significant radiological risk for the pupils and staff in the schools under investigation. Consequently, the health hazards related to radiation are expected to be negligible. Keywords: Radon concentration, Alpha particles, Annual effective dose, Schools. PACs: 29.40.−n.

scholarly journals A reconnaissance study of radon concentrations in Hamadan city, Iran

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 857-863 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. K. Gillmore ◽  
N. Jabarivasal
Keyword(s):  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Limit Of Detection ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Alluvial Fan ◽  
Winter Period ◽  
Radiological Protection ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
Western Iran ◽  
Surficial Deposits ◽  
Radon Concentrations

Abstract. This paper presents results of a reconnaissance study that used CR-39 alpha track-etch detectors to measure radon concentrations in dwellings in Hamadan, western Iran, significantly, built on permeable alluvial fan deposits. The indoor radon levels recorded varied from 4 (i.e. below the lower limit of detection for the method) to 364 Bq/m3 with a mean value of 108 Bq/m3 which is 2.5 times the average global population-weighted indoor radon concentration – these data augment the very few published studies on indoor radon levels in Iran. The maximum radon concentration in Hamadan occurs during the winter period (January to March) with lower concentrations during the autumn. The effective dose equivalent to the population in Hamadan is estimated from this study to be in the region of 2.7 mSv/y, which is above the guidelines for dose to a member of the public of 1 mSv/y suggested by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) in 1993. This study supports other work in a number of countries that indicates such permeable "surficial" deposits as being of intermediate to high radon potential. In western Iran, the presence of hammered clay floors, the widespread presence of excavated qanats, the textural properties of surficial deposits and human behaviour intended to cope with winds are likely to be important factors influencing radon concentrations in older buildings.

scholarly journals SPATIAL VARIABILITY OF INDOOR RADON CONCENTRATION IN SCHOOLS: IMPLICATIONS ON RADON MEASUREMENT PROTOCOLS

2020 ◽  
Vol 191 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-137
Author(s):  
Z Curguz ◽  
G Venoso ◽  
Z S Zunic ◽  
D Mirjanic ◽  
M Ampollini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Variability ◽  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Reference Level ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
Radon Measurement ◽  
Ground Floor ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Radon Measurements

Abstract The requirements about radon measurements in schools and public buildings included in most of the national and international legislations are generally restricted to all the rooms located at the ground floor and basement, assuming the soil beneath the building as the main source of indoor radon. In order to verify such an assumption for small buildings having at maximum two floors, a preliminary study was performed in 50 schools located in 15 municipalities of the Republic of Srpska. Results of this study suggest that a protocol requiring measurements at the ground floor only may be considered adequate. Due to the high radon spatial variability for rooms at the ground floor, it is preferable to require measurements in a high number of rooms (preferably in all of them) in order to assess the compliance with the reference level established by the legislation.

scholarly journals Construction a process to measurement the indoor radon concentration

2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 53-60
Author(s):  
Hien Thi To ◽  
Nguyen Thao Nguyen ◽  
Huy Huu Duong
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Exposure Time ◽  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Construction Process ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
Radon Exposure ◽  
Indoor Location ◽  
Radon Inhalation ◽  
Radon Concentrations

Radon is a naturally radioactive gas , but it causes lung cancer to humans. The risk of lung cancer due to radiation depends on the amount of radon inhalation and radon exposure time. In Vietnam, radon concentrations are usually determined by RAD7, however RAD7 just showed the immediate values of radon, and have to regularly calibrate it. The construction process to determine the accumulates indoor radon concentration by detector CR- 39 in order to be widely used in the study of environmental pollution, especially the study of health risks of radon for humans and mapping radon pollution. Detector CR - 39 is placed in a 7 cm - plastic holder, and in exposure time, the holders were covered with glass fiber filter paper ∅ 47mm on the bottom of the detector to avoid the exposure of dust. Then it is hung in the indoor location as Vietnam Standard 7889:2008. After 3 months, holders are returned to a laboratory, and CR - 39 will be soaked in 6M NaOH at 700C. Indoor radon concentrations will be proportional to the density traces obtained on CR-39. The study uses an radium 226 source of the NIST (National Institute for Standards and Technology) with the released radon coefficient : f = 0.891 ± 0.015. Results show the calibration factor K is 4.533 ± 0.218 [(Bq.m-3. day)]/(tracks / CR-39)]. Using K factor, we can determine the cumulative indoor radon concentration.

scholarly journals Measurement of indoor radon concentrations in different dwellings in Arar, Saudi Arabia

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 293-300
Author(s):  
Ayman Abdalla ◽  
Samy El-Gamal
Keyword(s):  
Annual Effective Dose ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Geometric Mean ◽  
International Committee ◽  
Geometric Standard Deviation ◽  
Cancer Risks ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
Lifetime Cancer Risk ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Radon Concentrations

Indoor radon concentrations in 33 dwellings in Arar city were measured using a CR-39 detector. This work is the first in the region and was done to assess the health risks. The exposure time was about 4 months, from May to September 2017. It was found that the indoor radon concentration changed in the range from 7.7 to 89.1 Bqm-3 with an overall average of 44.05 ? 6.21 Bqm-3 while the geometric mean is 39.51 Bqm-3 with a geometric standard deviation of 1.67. These values are within the acceptable level set by the International Committee for Radiation Protection. The annual effective dose received by the population of Arar was reported and it varied in the range 0.16 -1.82 mSv with an average value of 0.9 ? 0.16 mSv and the geometric mean is 0.81 mSv. The exposure to radon progeny was studied where the minimum, maximum, average, and geometric mean of exposure are 0.83?10-3, 9.63?10-3, 4.76 ? 0.67? 10-3 and 5.05?10-3 WLM, respectively. Finally, for the estimation of cancer risks, the excess lifetime cancer risk was investigated. Its average value was 3.7?10-3 which is relatively higher.

An approach to predicting indoor radon concentration based on depressurisation measurements

2020 ◽  
pp. 1420326X2092474
Author(s):  
James A McGrath ◽  
Miriam A Byrne
Keyword(s):  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Power Laws ◽  
Rate Coefficients ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
Entry Rate ◽  
Energy Retrofit ◽  
Building Characteristics ◽  
Passive Measurements ◽  
Radon Concentrations

Exposure to radon is recognised as the second-leading cause of lung cancer after tobacco smoke. The passive measurements typically take up to three months to be representative of the annual radon concentration. A recently developed approach depressurises a dwelling to heighten the convective radon flux determining radon entry rate coefficients. The current study characterises the ventilation status, air tightness and eight selected hourly air change rates measurements, of a sample of naturally ventilated dwellings in Ireland. The household averaged air change rate ranged from 0.28 to 1.87 h−1 and airtightness measurements ranged from 4.830 to 9.423 m3 h−1 m−2 @ 50 Pa, depending on the building characteristics. The experimentally obtained values were used to parameterise a computational model for these selected dwellings and to predict radon concentrations. The radon entry rate power laws ranged from 0.18ΔP0.97 to 1.28ΔP1.18 Bq s−1. Probabilistic functions were generated based on the experimental data and predicted radon concentrations were within one standard deviation of the experimentally measured values in three out of four cases. The data generated can be used in modelling simulations to predict indoor radon concentrations based on local meteorological conditions, building characteristics, ventilation guidelines and energy-retrofit measurements.

SHORT-TERM ANNUAL VARIATIONS OF RADON CONCENTRATION IN WORKPLACES: SOME RESULTS IN A RESEARCH INSTITUTE

2020 ◽  
Vol 191 (2) ◽  
pp. 138-143
Author(s):  
G Venoso ◽  
M Ampollini ◽  
S Antignani ◽  
M Caprio ◽  
C Carpentieri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Scientific Journals ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
Annual Average ◽  
Annual Variations ◽  
Council Directive ◽  
Research Institute

Abstract Many international and national regulations on radon in workplaces, including the 2013/59/Euratom Council Directive, are based on the annual average of indoor radon concentration, assuming it is representative of the long-term average. However, a single annual radon concentration measurement does not reflect annual variations (i.e. year-to-year variations) of radon concentration in the same location. These variations, if not negligible, should be considered for an optimized implementation of regulations. Unfortunately, studies on annual variations in workplaces can be difficult and time-consuming and no data have been published on scientific journals on this issue. Therefore, we carried out a study to obtain a first evaluation of short-term annual variations in workplaces of a research institute in Rome (Italy). The radon concentration was measured in 120 rooms (mainly offices and laboratories) located in 23 buildings. In each room, two 1-year long measurements were performed, with an interval between the two measurements of up to 3 years. The results show variability between the two 1-year long measurements higher than the variability observed in a sample of dwellings in the same area. Further studies are required to confirm the results and to extend the study to other types of workplaces.

A study of diurnal and short-term variations of indoor radon concentrations at the University of Michigan, USA and their correlations with environmental factors

2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 1051-1061 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dong Xie ◽  
Maili Liao ◽  
Hanqing Wang ◽  
Kimberlee J. Kearfott
Keyword(s):  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
Barometric Pressure ◽  
University Of Michigan ◽  
Outdoor Temperature ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
Hourly Rainfall ◽  
The University ◽  
Radon Concentrations

Measurements of indoor radon concentrations and environmental parameters were collected continuously on an hourly basis over a three-month period (April 2012 to June 2012). These were performed both in a well-ventilated ground floor laboratory and in the unventilated basement directly below it in a two-storey building at the University of Michigan, USA. The diurnal variations of indoor radon concentration were investigated along with their correlations to the environmental parameters. The results showed that in the laboratory with typical air exchange, the highest radon values appeared in the early morning while lower values emerged in the afternoon. A similar time-course was followed by radon concentrations in the basement with stagnant air. The day-average radon concentrations in the laboratory ranged from 27 ± 2 Bq m−3 to 54 ± 5 Bq m−3, with the overall mean of 37 ± 6 Bq m−3 over the three-month data collection period. The overall basement average, 900 ± 92 Bq m−3 is significantly higher than the population-weighted world average value of 39 Bq m−3. For the ground-level laboratory, the indoor humidity, outdoor temperature and indoor–outdoor temperature difference were positively correlated with indoor radon. The indoor radon negatively correlated with outdoor barometric pressure, wind speed and indoor–outdoor barometric pressure differences. However, for the unventilated basement, the only statistically significant correlation of indoor radon concentration was a positive one with hourly rainfall.

scholarly journals Radon concentrations in multi-story buildings in Montenegro

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-174
Author(s):  
Perko Vukotic ◽  
Ranko Zekic ◽  
Nevenka Antovic ◽  
Tomislav Andjelic
Keyword(s):  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Small Contribution ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Floor Level ◽  
Radon Activity ◽  
Activity Concentrations ◽  
Radon Concentrations

Change of radon concentrations in dwellings with floor level was studied in six multi-story buildings, in four towns of Montenegro with different climate conditions. The annual aver- age radon activity concentrations in 35 dwellings are found to be very low, mostly at a level of 20-30 Bqm?3. Absorbed gamma dose rates in these dwellings are in the range of 14-58 nGyh?1. The low radon concentrations are a consequence of a good tightness of the structures in contact with the ground and a small contribution of building materials to radon indoors. A clear general trend of changes in radon concentrations with floor level is not observed. In most of the dwellings on different floors in the multi-story building radon concentration varies very little, mostly within measurement error. A small decrease in radon concentration is noted between the two or three floors closest to the ground, but only in some of the buildings. Therefore, a decrease of indoor radon concentration with floor level cannot be considered as a general characteristic of multi-story buildings. Although the seasonal radon variations have not been in the focus of this study, it was found that the average radon activity concentrations in dwellings of the multi-story buildings are higher in warmer than in cooler half-year period, what is contrary to the general rule for homes in the world and in Montenegro as well.

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