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

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 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.

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.

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

scholarly journals Eff ect of the Extensive Use of Granites as Countertops in Luxury Buildings on the Indoor Radon Concentration and the Potential Risk to Occupants

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 9-17
Author(s):  
Mohammed S. Tayeb ◽  
Abdulraheem A. Kinsara
Keyword(s):  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Lung Cancer Mortality ◽  
Measurement Instruments ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
Radon Measurement ◽  
The Public ◽  
King Abdulaziz University ◽  
Radon Inhalation ◽  
New Buildings

Radon concentration has been measured inside the new buildings of King Abdulaziz University to study the effect of the extensive use of granites as countertops on the indoor radon concentration. A set of indoor and outdoor measurements has been conducted using radon measurement instruments. For comparison, indoor radon concentration was also measured in the older buildings, where granite countertops were in use at only a few sites near the main entrances. The obtained results indicate that the average indoor radon concentrations were 8.8 ± 4.8 and 11.2 ± 4.9 Bq/m3 in the old and new buildings, respectively. The average outdoor concentration was about 4.4 Bq/m3. These values are lower than the global average values. The average annual eff ective dose due to indoor radon was calculated for the general public and for the occupants of the new buildings. Risk estimates have been done based on the average radon concentration values. The average annual effective dose for the public due to radon inhalation was estimated to be 0.264 mSv, and for the occupants of the new buildings to be 0.280 mSv. The associated risk of lung cancer mortality to inhabitants due to lifetime radon inhalation is estimated to be 102.9x10-5 for the public and 109.5x10-5 for the occupants of the new buildings.

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
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