Radon and thoron parallel measurements in Hungary

Hungarian detectors modified and developed at the National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS), Japan were placed at different sites, including homes and underground workplaces in Hungary, in order to gain information on the average radon (222Rn) and thoron (220Rn) concentration levels. Measurements were carried out in dwellings in a village and a manganese mine in Hungary. The radon and thoron concentrations in the dwellings of the village in the summer period were found to be 154 (17-1083) and 98 (1-714) Bq m(-3), respectively. Considering the results of other radon measurements during the winter (814 Bq m(-3)) and summer (182 Bq m(-3)) periods, the thoron concentrations were also expected to be higher in winter. In the manganese mine, radon and thoron were measured at 20 points for 6 months, changing the detectors each month. The averages were 924 (308-1639) and 221 (61-510) Bq m(-3) for radon and thoron, respectively. These results showed significant variance with the date and place of the measurement.     

Thoron and decay products, beyond UNSCEAR 2006 Annex E

Uranium and thorium series radionuclides are present in all soils and rocks. Thus, radon and thoron, the radioactive noble gases originating in the uranium ((238)U) and thorium ((232)Th) decay chains is ubiquitous and everyone is exposed to both radon and thoron gases and their particulate radioactive decay products. As described in UNSCEAR Annex E (2006), radon and its decay products have been recognised for many years as a hazard to underground miners. More recently, the risks from exposure to residential radon have been demonstrated through residential case-control epidemiological studies. However, as discussed by UNSCEAR, exposures to thoron and its decay products have often been relatively ignored. Moreover, unlike radon the effects of exposure to thoron and its decay products are not available from epidemiology and thus, a dosimetric approach is required to assess risks. UNSCEAR continues to recommend the use of a dose conversion factor for thoron decay products of 40 nSv (Bq h m(-3))(-1). UNSCEAR Annex E suggests there is an emerging problem, namely, that the contribution of (220)Rn (thoron) gas to the (222)Rn (radon) gas measurement signal is not well known. Until recently, this has largely been ignored. This is an important consideration as measurements at work and homes are the basis for investigating lung cancer exposure-response relationships. Based on UNSCEAR Annex E, this paper provides an overview of the sources and levels of thoron and its associated decay products at home and work. In addition, this paper provides an overview of the thoron dosimetry considered by UNSCEAR Annex E and some recent results.