Evaluation of correlation between indoor radon concentration and the attribution of gypsum board content in building materials

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 217-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoon-Shin Kim ◽  
◽  
Sung-Won Yoon ◽  
Jeong-Il Lee ◽  
Hyun-Woo Shin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Gypsum Board ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration

Radiological variation of indoor radon and thoron levels by pinhole dosimeter in different seasons

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (7) ◽  
pp. 1001-1014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sudhir Mittal ◽  
Asha Rani ◽  
Rohit Mehra ◽  
B. K. Sahoo ◽  
B. K. Sapra
Keyword(s):  
Radiation Protection ◽  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Winter Season ◽  
International Commission ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
Different Seasons ◽  
Level 3

The annual variation in radon and thoron concentrations in different seasons has been revealed for 40 different locations of Jodhpur, Nagaur, Bikaner and Jhunjhunu districts of Northern Rajasthan by using pinhole dosimeter, and the results have been compared with ventilation conditions and building materials. The indoor radon concentration was observed to vary from 109 ± 17 to 334 ± 13 Bq m−3, 63 ± 17 to 255 ± 21 Bq m−3, 45 ± 11 to 128 ± 19 Bq m−3 and 74 ± 9 to 300 ± 21 Bq m−3 and thoron concentration varies from 26 ± 15 to 418 ± 21 Bq m−3, 3 ± 2 to 134 ± 33 Bq m−3, 12 ± 6 to 140 ± 19 Bq m−3 and 6 ± 4 to 408 ± 29 Bq m−3 for winter, spring, summer and autumn seasons, respectively. In winter season, indoor radon concentration of about 50% dwellings was observed to be within or higher than the action level as recommended by International Commission of Radiation Protection. However, in summer the action level is lower than the action limit. The exposure of human beings to indoor radon and thoron and the associated risk has also been examined. The total annual mean effective dose due to indoor radon and thoron in Northern Rajasthan are less than or close to the action level 3–10 mSv y−1 as recommended by International Commission of Radiation Protection.

INDOOR RADON CONCENTRATION AND RISK ASSESSMENT IN SOME DWELLINGS OF OBUASI, MINING TOWN

2019 ◽  
Vol 188 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-37
Author(s):  
Irene Opoku-Ntim ◽  
Aba Bentil Andam ◽  
Vicenzo Roca ◽  
J J Fletcher ◽  
T T Akiti
Keyword(s):  
Effective Dose ◽  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
Mining Town ◽  
222Rn Concentration ◽  
Materials Used

Abstract 222Rn concentration indoors was measured in 40 dwellings in the Obuasi municipality, a gold-mining town in the Ashanti Region of Ghana using the LR 115 type II strippable detectors for the two major seasons in Ghana, rainy and dry. The detectors were placed in the bed rooms of dwellers for 6 months each. Average indoor radon concentration varied from 63.9 to 364.9 Bqm−3 with a mean of 152.2 ± 10.9 Bqm−3 in the rainy season and 26.1–119.0 Bqm−3 with a mean of 50.5 ± 3.9 Bqm−3 in the dry season. The effective dose of 3.90 ± 0.3 mSvy−1 for the rainy season and for the dry season, effective dose of 0.6 mSvy−1 were recorded. The seasonal variation of 222Rn concentration indoors showed higher values in the rainy season than the dry season. A dependence was observed between the type of building materials used in building and the indoor radon level.

scholarly journals Radon concentrations in multi-story buildings in Montenegro

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-174
Author(s):  
Perko Vukotic ◽  
Ranko Zekic ◽  
Nevenka Antovic ◽  
Tomislav Andjelic
Keyword(s):  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Small Contribution ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Floor Level ◽  
Radon Activity ◽  
Activity Concentrations ◽  
Radon Concentrations

Change of radon concentrations in dwellings with floor level was studied in six multi-story buildings, in four towns of Montenegro with different climate conditions. The annual aver- age radon activity concentrations in 35 dwellings are found to be very low, mostly at a level of 20-30 Bqm?3. Absorbed gamma dose rates in these dwellings are in the range of 14-58 nGyh?1. The low radon concentrations are a consequence of a good tightness of the structures in contact with the ground and a small contribution of building materials to radon indoors. A clear general trend of changes in radon concentrations with floor level is not observed. In most of the dwellings on different floors in the multi-story building radon concentration varies very little, mostly within measurement error. A small decrease in radon concentration is noted between the two or three floors closest to the ground, but only in some of the buildings. Therefore, a decrease of indoor radon concentration with floor level cannot be considered as a general characteristic of multi-story buildings. Although the seasonal radon variations have not been in the focus of this study, it was found that the average radon activity concentrations in dwellings of the multi-story buildings are higher in warmer than in cooler half-year period, what is contrary to the general rule for homes in the world and in Montenegro as well.

Influence of Ventilation Rate on Indoor Radon Concentration in a Test Chamber

1994 ◽  
Vol 56 (1-4) ◽  
pp. 15-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Capra ◽  
C. Silibello ◽  
G. Queirazza
Keyword(s):  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Test Chamber ◽  
Ventilation Rate ◽  
Outdoor Air ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
Remedial Actions ◽  
Underlying Soil

Abstract A methodological approach is proposed in order to identify the sources of indoor radon and the proper remedial actions to be undertaken in highly contaminated houses. The application of this methodology to a test chamber allows the evaluation of the following sources: building materials, outdoor air and underlying soil. Estimates are performed by both experimental techniques and mathematical modelling. Measurements carried out inside the test chamber indicate the dependence of radon concentration on ventilation and differential pressure between indoors and outdoors. The increase in ventilation induces the following effects on radon entry: an increase of entrance from outdoor air and a diminution of inflow from underlying crawlspace due to the rise of indoor pressure that inhibits the upward airflow from the crawlspace.

Evaluation of the effect of cover layer on radon exhalation from building materials

2020 ◽  
pp. 1420326X2096338
Author(s):  
Chenhua Wang ◽  
Dong Xie ◽  
Chuck Wah Yu ◽  
Hanqing Wang
Keyword(s):  
Effective Dose ◽  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Concrete Block ◽  
Radon Exhalation Rate ◽  
Exhalation Rate ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
Cover Layer ◽  
Radon Exhalation

Radium, which is naturally present in many building materials, decays to the radioactive gas radon, which is exhaled from the surface of concrete block and is a major source of human exposure to radioactivity. In this study, an experimental evaluation of radon exhalation was conducted on a concrete block covered with mortar and acrylic render. Factors such as sand aggregates content and water content of the mortar cover layer, the thickness of the double cover layer were considered. Results showed that the radon exhalation rate was increased with an increase of sand content in mortar cover layer, and the radon exhalation rate was reduced with an increase of the thickness and water content. Besides, indoor radon concentration and effective dose estimation involving concrete block with cover layer were evaluated. The calculated indoor radon concentration was reduced from 234.9 to 201.1 Bq m−3 as the thickness of the cover layer was increased from 15 to 35 mm, and the effective dose was reduced by 0.61 mSv y−1. Therefore, the addition of a cover layer on the indoor walls, floors and ceilings could reduce the indoor radon concentration and the radon dose on exposure to occupants.

scholarly journals Using a scale model room to assess the contribution of building material of volcanic origin to indoor radon

Nukleonika ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 71-76
Author(s):  
Carlo Lucchetti ◽  
Mauro Castelluccio ◽  
Matteo Altamore ◽  
Alessandra Briganti ◽  
Gianfranco Galli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ambient Temperature ◽  
Building Material ◽  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Activity Concentration ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Scale Model ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
Volcanic Origin ◽  
Model Room

AbstractIn the frame of Radon rEal time monitoring System and Proactive Indoor Remediation (RESPIRE), a LIFE 2016 project funded by the European Commission, the contribution of building materials of volcanic origin to indoor radon concentration was investigated. First, total gamma radiation and related outdoor dose rates of geological materials in the Caprarola area (Central Italy) were measured to define main sources of radiation. Second, 222Rn and 220Rn exhalation rates of these rocks used as building materials were measured using an accumulation chamber connected in a closed loop with a RAD7 radon monitor. Among others, the very porous “Tufo di Gallese” ignimbrite provided the highest values. This material was then used to construct a scale model room of 62 cm × 50 cm × 35 cm (inner length × width × height, respectively) to assess experimental radon and thoron activity concentration at equilibrium and study the effects of climatic conditions and different coatings on radon levels. A first test was carried out at ambient temperature to determine experimental 222Rn and 220Rn equilibrium activities in the model room, not covered with plaster or other coating materials. Experimental 222Rn equilibrium was recorded in just two days demonstrating that the room “breaths”, exchanging air with the outdoor environment. This determines a dilution of indoor radon concentration. Other experiments showed that inner covers (such as plasterboard and different kinds of paints) partially influence 222Rn but entirely cut the short-lived 220Rn. Finally, decreases in ambient temperature reduce radon exhalation from building material and, in turn, indoor activity concentration.

scholarly journals Radon and thoron exhalation rate measurements from building materials used in Serbia

Nukleonika ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-114
Author(s):  
Igor T. Čeliković ◽  
Gordana K. Pantelić ◽  
Miloš Z. Živanović ◽  
Ivana S. Vukanac ◽  
Jelena D. Krneta Nikolić ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Building Material ◽  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Exhalation Rate ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
Active Device ◽  
Closed Chamber ◽  
Materials Used ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThe second most important source of indoor radon, after soil beneath dwelling, is building material. With the increase in environmental awareness and new energy-saving policies, residents tend to replace the existing windows with tighter windows, which leads to a decrease in air exchange rate and consequently an increase in indoor radon concentration. In case of low exchange rates, dose caused by inhalation of radon and its progeny can exceed external dose originating from the radium content in the surrounding building material. In this paper, surface exhalation rates of radon (222Rn) and thoron (220Rn) from typical building materials used for construction and interior decoration of houses in Serbia were investigated. Surface exhalation rate measurements were performed using the closed-chamber method, while concentrations of radon and thoron in the chamber were continuously measured using an active device, RTM1688-2, produced by SARAD® GmbH. Finally, the impact of the replacement of windows on the indoor radon concentration was estimated.

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

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.

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