A study of indoor radon levels in rural dwellings of Ezine (Canakkale, Turkey) using solid-state nuclear track detectors

Indoor radon activity level and radon effective dose (ED) rate have been carried out in the rural dwellings of Ezine (Canakkale) during the summer season using Radosys-2000, a complete set suitable to radon concentration measurements with CR-39 plastic alpha track detectors. The range of radon concentration varied between 9 and 300 Bq m(-3), with an average of 67.9 (39.9 SD) Bq m(-3). Assuming an indoor occupancy factor of 0.8 and 0.4 for the equilibrium factor of radon indoors, it has been found that the 222Rn ED rate in the dwellings studied ranges from 0.4 to 5.2 mSv y(-1), with an average value of 1.7 (1.0) mSv y(-1). There is a possibility that low radon concentrations exist indoors during the summer season in the study area because of relatively high ventilation rates in the dwellings. A winter survey will be needed for future estimation of the annual ED.     

Indoor radon measurements in the granodiorite area of Bergama (Pergamon)-Kozak, Turkey

Indoor radon levels in 20 dwellings of rural areas at the Kozak-Bergama (Pergamon) granodiorite area in Turkey were measured by the alpha track etch integrated method. These dwellings were monitored for eight successive months. Results show that the radon levels varied widely in the area ranging from 11±1 to 727±11 Bq m(-3) and the geometric mean was found to be 63 Bq m(-3) with a geometric standard deviation of 2 Bq m(-3). A log-normal distribution of the radon concentration was obtained for the studied area. Estimated annual effective doses due to the indoor radon ranged from 0.27 to 18.34 mSv y(-1) with a mean value of 1.95 mSv y(-1), which is lower than the effective dose values 3-10 mSv given as the range of action levels recommended by International Commission on Radiation Protection. All dosimetric calculations were performed based on the guidance of the UNSCEAR 2000 report.     

Indoor exposure of population to radon in the FYR of Macedonia

The authors present the results of a year-long survey of the indoor radon concentration levels in the FYR of Macedonia. A total number of 437 dwellings in eight statistical regions were subject to radon concentration measurements by using CR-39 track detectors. The annual mean indoor radon concentration in each measuring site was estimated from the four individual measurements with 3 months duration. The measuring period was from December 2008 to December 2009. The distribution of the results was nearly log-normal. The arithmetic and geometric mean values of the annual mean value of radon concentration were estimated to be 105 ± 84 and 84*/1.9 Bq m(-3), respectively. The annual effective dose due to indoor exposure to radon in the dwellings was estimated to be 2.1*/1.9 mSv y(-1).     

National radon survey in Korea

To estimate annual average concentrations in Korean dwellings and the effective dose to the general public, nationwide surveys on radon were conducted in 1989, 1999-2000 and 2002-2005. The total number of dwellings was about 5600. A survey of thoron and its decay products was also conducted in 2002-2005. In 2008-2009, a new radon survey in 1100 public buildings was conducted. The annual arithmetic (AM) and geometric (GM) means of indoor radon concentration in total were 62.1 ± 66.4 and 49.0 ± 1.9 Bq m(-3), respectively. The annual AM and GM means of indoor thoron concentrations were 40.4 ± 56.0 and 10.7 ± 2.9 Bq m(-3), respectively. The radon and thoron concentrations in detached houses were much higher than those in apartments. The locations of the high radon or thoron houses seem to be correlated with the concentrations of their parent nuclides in surface soil. The mean individual doses of radon and thoron were calculated to be 1.65 and 0.17 mSv y(-1), respectively.     

Radon measurements by nuclear track detectors in dwellings in Oke-Ogun area, South-Western, Nigeria

An indoor radon survey of a total of 77 dwellings randomly selected in 10 districts in Oke-Ogun area of Oyo state, South-western Nigeria was carried out using CR-39 detectors. The CR-39 detectors were placed in the bedrooms and living rooms and exposed for 6 months and then etched in NaOH 6.25 N solution at 90 °C for 3 h. Mean concentrations amount to 255 ± 47 and 259 ± 67 Bq m(-3) in the living rooms and bedrooms, respectively. The lowest radon concentration (77 ± 29 Bq m(-3)) was found in Igbeti, whereas the highest was found in Okeho (627 ± 125 Bq m(-3)). The annual exposure of dwellers was estimated to fall <10 mSv (6.4 and 6.5 mSv y(-1) n living rooms and bedrooms, respectively), which is the upper range of action levels recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection. The average excess lung cancer risk was estimated 24.8 and 25.2 per million person-years in both living rooms and bedrooms. It is believed that the high radon level in this part of the country may be attributed to its geographic location. The data presented here will serve as a baseline survey for radon concentration in dwellings in the area.     

Long-term measurements of thoron, its airborne progeny and radon in 205 dwellings in Ireland

Long-term (circa 3 months) simultaneous measurements of indoor concentrations of thoron gas, airborne thoron progeny and radon were made using passive alpha track detectors in 205 dwellings in Ireland during the period 2007-09. Thoron progeny concentrations were measured using passive deposition monitors designed at the National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS), Japan, whereas thoron gas concentrations were measured using Raduet detectors (Radosys, Budapest). Radon concentrations were measured in these dwellings by means of NRPB/SSI type alpha track radon detectors as normally used by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII). The concentration of thoron gas ranged from <1 to 174 Bq m(-3) with an arithmetic mean (AM) of 22 Bq m(-3). The concentration of radon gas ranged from 4 to 767 Bq m(-3) with an AM of 75 Bq m(-3). For radon, the estimated annual doses were 0.1 (min), 19.2 (max) and 1.9 (AM) mSv y(-1). The concentration of thoron progeny ranged from <0.1 to 3.8 Bq m(-3) [equilibrium equivalent thoron concentration (EETC)] with an AM of 0.47 Bq m(-3) (EETC). The corresponding estimated annual doses were 2.9 (max) and 0.35 (mean) mSv y(-1). In 14 or 7% of the dwellings, the estimated doses from thoron progeny exceeded those from radon.     

Indoor radon concentration and its possible dependence on ventilation rate and flooring type

The results of radon concentration measurements carried out in dwellings with natural ventilation for 1 y in Bangalore are reported. Measurements, covering three sessions of the day (morning, afternoon, night) were performed two times in a month for 1 y at a fixed place of each dwelling at a height of 1 m above the ground surface in selected dwellings. The low-level radon detection system (LLRDS), an active method, was used for the estimation of radon concentration. The measurements were aimed to understand the diurnal variation and the effect of ventilation rate and flooring type on indoor radon concentration. The geometric mean (± geometric standard deviation) of indoor radon concentration from about 500 measurements carried out in 20 dwellings is found to be 25.4 ± 1.54 Bq m?3. The morning, afternoon and night averages were found to be 42.6 ± 2.05, 15.3 ± 2.18 and 28.5 ± 2.2 Bq m?3, respectively. The approximate natural ventilation rates of the dwellings were calculated using the PHPAIDA--the on-line natural ventilation, mixed mode and air infiltration rate calculation algorithm and their effects on indoor radon concentrations were studied. The inhalation dose and the lung cancer risk due to indoor radon exposure were found to be 0.66 mSv y?1 and 11.9 per 10? persons, respectively. The gamma exposure rate was also measured in all the dwellings and its correlation with the inhalation dose rate was studied.     

Indoor radon in rural dwellings of the South-Pannonian region

The results of indoor radon survey in the South-Pannonian Province Vojvodina (Serbia and Montenegro) are presented. The sampling strategy was oriented towards suburban and urban regions in the Province. For the dwellings typical for such regions the geometric mean annual radon activity concentration of 76.1 Bq m(-3) is measured (1000 measurements). This result leads to the annual dose estimate of 4.3 mSv y(-1), which is above the recommended action limit of ICRP. For urban dwellings in Novi Sad (the Province capital), the annual mean value of 54 Bq m(-3) (220 measurements) is obtained. By comparison of these two results it is concluded that radon surveys based on measurements in urban environment may seriously underestimate the radon-related health risk. The elevated radon levels could not be explained by elevated uranium levels of surface soil.     

Simultaneous measurements of indoor radon, radon-thoron progeny and high-resolution gamma spectrometry in Greek dwellings

Simultaneous indoor radon, radon-thoron progeny and high-resolution in situ gamma spectrometry measurements, with portable high-purity Ge detector were performed in 26 dwellings of Thessaloniki, the second largest town of Greece, during March 2003-January 2005. The radon gas was measured with an AlphaGUARD ionisation chamber (in each of the 26 dwellings) every 10 min, for a time period between 7 and 10 d. Most of the values of radon gas concentration are between 20 and 30 Bq m(-3), with an arithmetic mean of 34 Bq m(-3). The maximum measured value of radon gas concentration is 516 Bq m(-3). The comparison between the radon gas measurements, performed with AlphaGUARD and short-term electret ionisation chamber, shows very good agreement, taking into account the relative short time period of the measurement and the relative low radon gas concentration. Radon and thoron progeny were measured with a SILENA (model 4s) instrument. From the radon and radon progeny measurements, the equilibrium factor F could be deduced. Most of the measurements of the equilibrium factor are within the range 0.4-0.5. The mean value of the equilibrium factor F is 0.49 +/- 0.10, i.e. close to the typical value of 0.4 adopted by UNSCEAR. The mean equilibrium equivalent thoron concentration measured in the 26 dwellings is EEC(thoron) = 1.38 +/- 0.79 Bq m(-3). The mean equilibrium equivalent thoron to radon ratio concentration, measured in the 26 dwellings, is 0.1 +/- 0.06. The mean total absorbed dose rate in air, owing to gamma radiation, is 58 +/- 12 nGy h(-1). The contribution of the different radionuclides to the total indoor gamma dose rate in air is 38% due to 40K, 36% due to thorium series and 26% due to uranium series. The annual effective dose, due to the different source terms (radon, thoron and external gamma radiation), is 1.05, 0.39 and 0.28 mSv, respectively.     

Indoor radon levels in primary schools of Patras, Greece

Radon activity concentrations have been measured in 53 from a total of 66 public primary schools throughout of Patras, Greece, during December 1999 to May 2000 using solid-state nuclear track detectors (LR-115 II). The indoor radon levels in the classrooms were generally low, ranging from 10 to 89 Bqm(-3). The mean (arithmetic mean) indoor concentration was 35 +/- 17 Bq m(-3) and an estimated annual effective dose of 0.1 +/- 0.1 mSv y(-1) was calculated for students and 0.2 +/- 0.1 mSv y(-1) for teachers, assuming an equilibrium factor of 0.4 and occupancy factor of 12 and 14%, respectively. The research was also focused on parameters affecting radon concentration levels such as floor number of the classrooms and the age of the buildings in relation to building materials.     

Radon measurements in the Catalagzi Thermal Power Plant, Turkey

The Catala?zi Thermal Power Plant (CTPP) (41(0)30'48.4(')N and 0.31(0)53'41.5(')E) is located at nearly 13 km North-east of Zonguldak city, which is located at the West Black Sea coast in Turkey. The middling products with high ash content of bituminous coals are used in this plant. Seasonal radon concentration measurements have been carried out by using CR-39 plastic track detectors in and around the CTPP. The annual average radon concentration has been found to vary from a minimum of 39.8 +/- 28.9 Bq m(-3) in the ash area to a maximum of approximately 75.0 +/- 15.7 Bq m(-3) in the service building of the power plant. The annual average radon concentration in the dwellings of the thermal power plant colony of the plant is 71.0 +/- 33.4 Bq m(-3). The effective dose has been found to vary from 0.38 to 0.71 mSv y(-1) with a mean value of 0.56 mSv y(-1), which is lower than the effective dose values 3-10 mSv given as the range of action levels recommended by International Commission on Radiological Protection: Protection against radon-222 at home and at work, ICRP Publication 65 (1993).     

Indoor radon concentrations in Adana, Turkey

The indoor radon concentration in Adana, Turkey was measured in living rooms of 52 houses during winter 2005 and 57 houses during summer 2005. Forty-four houses were selected for both winter and summer researches for estimating seasonal variations. Indoor radon concentrations were measured seasonally over hotter and colder 2 months over the whole year, using CR-39 passive nuclear track radon detectors. The radon concentrations were ranged from 15 to 97 Bq m(-3) on January-February 2005 for 60 d and from 5 to 70 Bq m(-3) on June-July 2005 for 60 d. The average summer concentration measured was 25.8 Bq m(-3) and the average winter concentration was 48.9 Bq m(-3) in 44 houses that observed seasonal variations. The differences between winter and summer periods were ranged from 1 to 77 Bq m(-3). The average value in both winter and summer periods is 37 Bq m(-3) in 44 houses that observed seasonal variations. This value is below the worldwide indoor radon concentration distribution of 46 Bq m(-3). The annual effective dose equivalent from (222)Rn was 0.9 mSv y(-1).     

Population dose in the vicinity of closed Hungarian uranium mine

In order to determine the exposure to natural sources of radiation for people in the vicinity of remediated Hungarian uranium mine regional surveys were carried out. The surveys evaluated indoor radon concentrations and outdoor and indoor external gamma dose rates. Radon concentration has been measured with nuclear etched track detectors for 4 months in 129 houses in Kovágószolos and in 23 houses in Cserkút. In some houses measurements have been carried out for a year and the measurement results of the 4 months were corrected according to these. The corrected radon concentrations altered between 15 and 2314 Bq m(-3). An average of 257 Bq m(-3) in Kovágószolos and 125 Bq m(-3) in Cserkút was measured. The average was 434 Bq m(-3) for the 48 houses within 100 m of the passage of the former mine that is under the village of Kovágószolos. The higher values of Kovágószolos are likely to be the result of the influence of mining. The terrestrial gamma-ray dose rate was measured outdoors and indoors at these houses. Values of 139 (62-233) nGy h(-1) and 133 (93-275) nGy h(-1) were measured in Kovágószolos and Cserkút, respectively. The average annual effective doses for the two villages studied were 3 and 5 mSv y(-1), but the maximum value was 40 mSv y(-1).     

French population exposure to radon, terrestrial gamma and cosmic rays

In France, natural sources account for most of the population exposure to ionising radiation. This exposure varies widely with area. Radon and gamma-ray exposure data come from national measurement campaigns; cosmic doses were calculated from city altitude. These data were corrected for season of measurement, housing characteristics and population density to study their relationship with health indicators. The crude average of indoor radon concentrations was 89 Bq m(-3), and the average corrected for season and housing characteristics was 83 Bq m(-3) (range over districts: 19-297). Weighting by district population density yielded a national average of 63 Bq m(-3). Gamma-ray dose rates averaged 55 nSv h(-1) (23-96) indoors and 46 nSv h(-1) (25-85) outdoors; corrections did not change the means. Corrected cosmic annual doses averaged 0.28 mSv (0.27-0.38). These corrections estimated the radiation exposure of the French population more accurately and represented its distribution well, thereby allowing its study as a cofactor in ecological studies.     

Indoor radon levels in buildings in the Autonomous Community of Extremadura (Spain)

Indoor air samples taken in buildings throughout the provinces of Cáceres and Badajoz in the Autonomous Community of Extremadura, Spain, were analysed for airborne radon concentrations using charcoal canisters. Measurements were made during the years 1998-2000. The geometrical mean indoor concentration was 90 Bq m(-3). An estimated annual effective dose of 1.6 mSv y(-1) was calculated for residents, assuming an equilibrium factor of 0.4 and an occupancy factor of 0.8. The relative importance of the principal variables that condition radon concentrations inside buildings was also delimited experimentally. These were: soil type, construction materials used, the height of the room above ground level, and the degree of ventilation. The temporal evolution of the radon concentration was analysed, as this aspect could be particularly important in a Continental-Mediterranean climate such as that of the two provinces of the study.     

Radon exposure assessment for underground workers: a case of Seoul Subway Police officers in Korea

The objective of this study is the systematic and individual assessment of the annual effective dose due to inhaled radon for the Seoul Subway Police officers, Korea. The annual average radon concentrations were found to be in the range of 18.9-114 Bq·m(-3) in their workplaces. The total annual effective doses which may likely to be received on duty were assessed to be in the range of 0.41-1.64 mSv·y(-1). These were well below the recommended action level 10 mSv·y(-1) by ICRP. However, the effective doses were higher than subway station staff in Seoul, Korea.     

Real-time measurement of individual occupational radon exposures in tombs of the Valley of the Kings, Egypt

The active radon exposure meter developed recently at the German Research Center for Environmental Health (Helmholtz Zentrum München) was used to measure radon concentrations in 12 tombs located in the Valley of the Kings, Egypt. Radon concentrations in air between 50 ± 7 and 12 100 ± 600 Bq m(-3) were obtained. The device was also used to measure individual radon exposures of those persons working as safeguards inside the tombs. For a measurement time of 2-3 d, typical individual radon exposures ranged from 1800 ± 400 to 240 000 ± 13 000 Bq h m(-3), depending on the duration of measurement and radon concentration in the different tombs. Based on current ICRP dose conversion conventions for workers and on equilibrium factors published in the literature for these tombs, individual effective dose rates that range from 1.5 ± 0.3 to 860 ± 50 μSv d(-1) were estimated. If it is assumed that the climatic conditions present at the measurement campaign persist for about half a year, in this area, then effective doses up to ～ 66 mSv could be estimated for half a year, for some of the safeguards of tombs where F-values were known. To reduce the exposure of the safeguards, some recommendations are proposed.     

Indoor radon concentrations in the town of Niksic, Montenegro

Indoor radon was systematically surveyed in the town of Niksic-the second largest town in Montenegro-which has some of its settlements built above red bauxite deposits. The radon concentrations were measured in 55 homes in 2002/03, in the summer and winter period, using CR-39 etched track detectors. The average annual radon concentrations were found to be lognormally distributed (geometric mean = 66.2 Bq m(-3), geometric standard deviation = 3.0) within the range from 10 to 966 Bq m(-3), with arithmetic mean of 122.7 Bq m(-3) and median of 61.7 Bq m(-3). Although the annual mean radon concentrations above the action level of 400 Bq m(-3) are found only in four dwellings, the indoor radon levels in the town of Niksic are relatively high when compared with the average in the South European countries, as well as with indoor radon levels in other regions in Montenegro.     

Ambient gamma radiation levels (indoor and outdoor) in the villages around Jaduguda (India) using card-based CaSO₄: Dy TL dosemeters

A systematic study of the gamma radiation levels (indoor and outdoor) in the villages surrounding the uranium-enriched regions around Jaduguda, India has been undertaken by monitoring selected dwellings in six villages. Each dwelling unit was monitored for a total duration of 1 y. The gamma radiation measurements were carried out using card-based CaSO(4): Dy thermoluminescent dosemeters. The estimated average annual gamma dose values for indoor and outdoor were 980 and 924 (μGy y(-1)), respectively, for the entire region studied. The maximum indoor and outdoor gamma doses experienced in North Dungridih and South Dungridih villages were 1305 and 1223 (μGy y(-1)), respectively. The minimum indoor and outdoor gamma dose values observed in Chatikocha village were 624 and 696 (μGy y(-1)), respectively. Seasonal variation of the indoor gamma values was not observed during the year; however, a small variation was seen with the type of building materials used for construction purposes. A statistical analysis was attempted to characterise the distribution of terrestrial gamma radiation obtained in the study area. The average quarterly indoor gamma values for spring, summer, monsoon and winter seasons as prevalent in the regions were 267±71, 262±54, 213±91, 238±66 (μGy 90 d(-1)), respectively. The annual effective doses to the local population residing in the selected dwelling units were estimated to be 0.6 and 0.1 (mSv y(-1)) for indoor and outdoor, respectively, using an occupancy factor of 0.8 and 0.2.     

A combination study of indoor radon and in situ gamma spectrometry measurements in Greek dwellings

The aim of the present study was to investigate of a possible correlation between indoor radon and indoor gamma dose rates deduced by in situ gamma spectrometry measurements by using a portable HPGe detector. Indoor radon and high resolution in situ gamma spectrometry measurements were performed in 60 apartments in Thessaloniki, the second largest city of Greece. Geometric mean radon concentration is 52 Bq m(-3). The mean total absorbed dose rate in air due to gamma radiation is 56 +/- 9 nGy h(-1). The contribution of the different radionuclides to the total indoor gamma dose rate in air is 41% due to 40K, 36% due to the thorium series and 23% due to the uranium series. No correlation was found between indoor gamma dose rate due to the uranium series and indoor radon for ground and first floor apartments. For upper floor apartments (above the second floor) a weak correlation is observed. The mean annual effective dose due to radon is 1.15 mSv, i.e., more than four times higher compared to the effective dose due to gamma radiation (0.27 mSv).