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A 222Rn survey and analysis for dwellings in Edirne (Türkiye) were performed to secure the radiological safety of persons and to provide information on the reduction of 222Rn exposure. Measurements of the 222Rn activity concentration, together with meteorological conditions were carried out using an AlphaGuard 2000 Pro monitor. Excess lifetime cancer risks (ELCRs) and annual effective dose rates (AEDs) were estimated to indicate associated human health risks. The mean indoor radon concentration was within the reference value of 200–300 Bq m−3 as suggested by International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and World Health Organization (WHO). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although radon concentrations in outdoor environments are generally low, the indoor concentrations can become appreciably high thereby affecting the indoor air quality and causing some severe health challenges. Thirty (30) offices from the ground floor and first floor of some buildings within Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) University campus, Lapai Nigeria, were randomly selected for indoor radon concentration (CRn) measurement using RAD7 continuous radon monitor. Annual effective dose was also computed to determine the level of public exposure. The results showed that radon concentration values for all the offices on the ground floor ranged between 9.6±2.7 Bqm-3 and 90.7±8.1 Bqm-3, with mean value of 28.5±4.8 Bqm-3 while the range of radon concentration at first floor was 2.5±1.4 Bqm-3 - 80.4±7.5 Bqm-3. All the measured indoor radon concentration levels were less than the 100 Bqm-3 action level proposed by World Health Organization (WHO). Average annual absorbed dose for both ground and first floors were 0.36±0.06 mSvy-1 and 0.24±0.05 mSvy-1 respectively, with corresponding mean annual effective dose of 0.86±0.15 mSvy-1 and 0.58±0.11 mSvy-1 in sequence. These values were below the 1.0 mSvy-1 safety limit set for public. Although the results did not suggest any immediate exposure threat to the public, it is important that the University staffs are adequately informed of indoor radon levels and its attendant health hazards. Improved and adequate ventilation of all the office buildings is highly encouraged in order to keep the radon levels as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radon is an increasingly common concern, mainly when it is found indoors exposing the users of the space to radiation. As a gas, radon is an element produced due to uranium decay; it emanates naturally from soil and is considered by the World Health Organization as the second most common cause of lung cancer. Several methodologies are available for mitigating the indoor radon concentration, with distinct improvements and efficiencies that need to be proved with on-site testing. The case study here presented analyzes the effect of applying a barrier membrane, covering the pavement of a ground floor room located in a historic building with a high occupancy rate, on an abnormal radon concentration evidenced by experimental data. After the barrier membrane installation, a new long-term monitoring campaign (3 months) was carried out to assess indoor radon concentration. The obtained results showed that the barrier membrane lowered the indoor radon concentration by 90%. However, the radon exposure level remained higher than the recommended level to enable safe occupation and the regular use of space. Nevertheless, as the reduction in the radon concentration was very significant by the adoption of a barrier membrane, the combination of this technical solution with other mitigation methodologies, namely including the adoption of mechanical ventilation procedures, can become a very efficient solution for radon remediation, reducing the number of air changes per hour (ACH) from 30–60 to 4–6. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the indoor radon concentrations map, starting from a sparse measurements survey, was realized with the Gini index method. This method was applied on a real dataset coming from indoor radon measurements carried out in Kpong, Ghana. The Gini coefficient variogram is shown to be a good estimator of the inhomogeneity degree of radon concentration because it allows for better constraining of the critical distance below which the radon geological source can be considered as uniform. The indoor radon measurements were performed in 96 dwellings in Kpong, Ghana. The data showed that 84% of the residences monitored had radon levels below 100 Bqm−3, versus 16% having levels above the World Health Organization's (WHO) suggested reference range (100 Bqm−3). The survey indicated that the average indoor radon concentration (IRC) was 55 ± 36 Bqm−3. The concentrations range from 4–176 Bqm−3. The mean value 55 Bqm−3 is 38% higher than the world's average IRC of 40 Bqm−3 (UNSCEAR, 1993). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radon is a radioactive gas which is present everywhere on the earth with different proportions according to the place. Known as an alpha emitter, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared it as carcinogenic for lungs since 1987. In order to prevent the population of Côte d’Ivoire from the health risks linked to radon, several indoor measurements have been carried out in the District of Abidjan (capital of Côte d’Ivoire), precisely in Abobo, the commune with the second national highest population rate. 18 sites have been selected in this commune for radon concentration monitoring using the Solid State Nuclear Tracks Detectors (SSNTD) technique.Radon concentrations measured in Abobo vary from 27.5 to 211.2 Bq.m-3 with an average of 113 Bq.m-3. Our results are analyzed and compared to the limit levels in other countries and also to those recommended by the WHO and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Except one site, most of our values are far inferior to international limits standards. Moreover, the Excess lung Cancer Risk (ECR) has been evaluated. Some protection measures have been proposed in order to reduce indoor radon concentration and the number of lung cancer related to radon in Côte d’Ivoire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the public and occupational exposure to radon and metal-bearing particles in museums and public buildings located in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. For this study, four buildings were selected: two historic buildings, which currently house an art gallery and an art museum; and two modern buildings, a chapel and a club. Integrated radon concentration measurements were performed using passive radon detectors with solid state nuclear track detector-type Lexan used as nuclear track detector. Air samplers with a cyclone were used to collect the airborne particle samples that were analyzed by the particle-induced X-ray emission technique. The average unattached-radon concentrations in indoor air in the buildings were above 40 Bq/m, with the exception of Building D as measured in 2009. The average radon concentrations in indoor air in the four buildings in 2009 were below the recommended reference level by World Health Organization (100 Bq/m); however, in 2011, the average concentrations of radon in Buildings A and C were above this level, though lower than 300 Bq/m. The average concentrations of unattached radon were lower than 148 Bq/m (4pCi/L), the USEPA level recommended to take action to reduce the concentrations of radon in indoor air. The unattached-radon average concentrations were also lower than the value recommended by the European Union for new houses. As the unattached-radon concentrations were below the international level recommended to take action to reduce the radon concentration in air, it was concluded that during the period of sampling, there was low risk to human health due to the inhalation of unattached radon in these four buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In continuation to our earlier studies concerning generation of the baseline indoor radon data, an indoor radon measurement survey was carried out in the districts Bagh and Kahuta, state of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir. In this context, 150 houses were selected in the aforesaid districts and CN-85-based box-type radon detectors installed in bedroom and living room of each house. The detectors were exposed to indoor radon for 3 months. After etching CN-85 detectors in 6 M NaOH at 70°C for 3 h, the observed track densities were related to the indoor radon concentration using calibration factor of 0.0092 tracks cm−2·h−1 per Bq·m−3. The measured indoor radon concentration ranged from 56 to 124 Bq·m−3 and 61 to 106 Bq·m−3 in the studied areas of districts Bagh and Kahuta, respectively. The mean annual effective dose ranged from 1.42 ± 0.15 to 3.12 ± 0.10 mSv·y−1 with an average of 2.16 ± 0.13 mSv·y−1 in the district Bagh and 1.54 ± 0.14 to 2.68 ± 0.12 mSv·y−1 with an average of 2.17 ± 0.13 mSv·y−1 in the district Kahuta. These values are within the safe limits recommended by the World Heath Organization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]