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Radon gas is the main natural source of exposure of the population to ionizing rays. Because of its impact on the health, this radioactive gas has become a great concern worldwide. In this study, radon concentrations in the air of some dwellings in Yopougon, one of the commune with the highest population rate of the district of Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire), are reported using Solid State Nuclear Tracks Detectors (SSNTD) LR 115 type 2. The concentration values found vary from 26.3 to 173.3 Bq.m −3 with an average of 93.04 Bq.m −3 . This mean value is inferior to the world minimum level (100 Bq.m −3 ). The corresponding annual effective doses obtained vary from 0.66 to 4.37 mSv.y −1 . The mean value calculated which is 2.35 mSv.y −1 is higher than the action level (1 mSv.y −1 ) prescribed by ICRP 103, and also to the limits recommended by the WHO and the International Research on Cancer Center (IRCC). In this view, the Excess lung Cancer Risk (ECR) for the population living in the commune of Yopougon is evaluated. The values of ECR found associated to the average radon concentration are between 46 and 204 according to EPA and UNSCEAR standards.

In the present study, we aimed to determine the changes of indoor radon concentrations depending on various environmental parameters, such as the outdoor temperature, relative humidity, and air pressure, in university building premises of different applications and heights. The environmental parameters and indoor radon concentrations in four different premises were measured each working day over an eight-month period. The results showed that the indoor radon levels strongly depended on the outside temperature and outside relative humidity, whereas the weakest correlations were found between the indoor radon levels and indoor and outdoor air pressures. The obtained indoor radon concentration and environmental condition correlations were different for the different premises of the building. That is, in two premises where the ventilation effect through unintentional air leakage points prevailed in winter, positive correlations between the radon concentration and outside temperature were obtained, reaching the values of 0.94 and 0.92, respectively. In premises with better airtightness, negative correlations (R = &minus, 0.96 and R = &minus, 0.62) between the radon concentrations and outside temperature were obtained. The results revealed that high quality air isolation in premises could be an important factor for higher indoor radon levels during summer compared to winter.

WOS: 000440121800044 PubMed: 29879534 In this study, indoor (air) and tap water Radon (Rn-222) measurements were performed at various campus areas of Giresun University. The measurement and analysis results were compared with the values recommended by international and national organizations and those reported in literature studies. The measured and calculated values were found to be under the recommended limits. Also, annual effective dose values were evaluated to determine the annual radon exposure of an individual working in the measurement area. Indoor radon concentration values measured by CR-39 detectors were in the range of 76 Bq/m(3)-504 Bq/m(3) and the mean concentration value was obtained as 193.7 Bq/m(3). The radon concentrations in tap water samples were found to be in the range of 0.98 Bq/L-27.28 Bq/L. The annual mean effective doses (E-wig) of drinking water samples were calculated in the range of 9.9-150.4 (mu Sv/y) for ingestion and 0.97-14.84 (mu Sv/y) for inhalation calculations. Excess life time cancer risk (ELCR) was estimated as 0.54%. Radon dose rate in terms of mean annual working level month was calculated as 0.246 WLM/year. The study was performed with a view to contribute to further studies in the related field and constitute a basis for the measurements conducted in this area. Giresun University Research Fund [FEN-BAP-A-140316-50] This work is supported by Giresun University Research Fund project under the project no FEN-BAP-A-140316-50. The authors gratefully acknowledge the approval of Giresun University Administration for locating the detectors in the units, the valuable helps of Giresun University personnel, and the technical support of TAEK (Turkish Atomic Energy Authority). The valuable helps of Dr. Yelda Bingol Alpaslan and Dr. Nuri Ozturk are also acknowledged.