RESULTS OF INDOOR RADON MEASUREMENTS IN THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA: – A REVIEW –

Radon and its short lived decay products accumulated in indoor environment are the main source of public exposure to natural radiations. The health effects as well as a great number of natural and artificial factors affecting the radon accumulation in indoor environments are some of the motives for the scientific interest in radon issue. Following this global trend, many studies of indoor radon in the Balkan region, including the Republic of Macedonia have been conducted in the last decade. This paper is an overview of the published papers regarding indoor radon concentration measurements with nuclear track detectors in the Republic of Macedonia. It gives basic information about the spatial and temporal variability of indoor radon over the territory of the country, following by a description of the some factors which affect its variations. This review attempts: to organize available indoor radon results in order to show clear picture of the so far conducted surveys; to highlight the need for continuation of more extensive radon investigation in workplaces; to motivate the building professionals to create as much as possible mitigation methods for indoor radon reduction, to motivate the health professionals for epidemiological studies etc.

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Epidemiology of Disasters in the Republic of Macedonia and the Balkan Region: Improving Public Health Preparedness

Prehospital and Disaster Medicine ◽

10.1017/s1049023x00008177 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 25 (3) ◽

pp. 285-286

Author(s):

Elisaveta Stikova ◽

Ron LaPorte ◽

Faina Linkov

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Public Health Preparedness ◽

Republic Of Macedonia ◽

Balkan Region ◽

The Republic

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Long-Term Impacts of Weather Conditions on Indoor Radon Concentration Measurements in Switzerland

Atmosphere ◽

10.3390/atmos13010092 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 92

Author(s):

Joan Frédéric Rey ◽

Stéphane Goyette ◽

Mauro Gandolla ◽

Martha Palacios ◽

Fabio Barazza ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Radon Concentration ◽

Indoor Radon ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Indoor Environments ◽

Indoor Radon Concentration ◽

Prone Area ◽

Building Characteristics ◽

Study Sites ◽

Radon Measurements

Radon is a natural and radioactive gas that can accumulate in indoor environments. Indoor radon concentration (IRC) is influenced, among other factors, by meteorology, which is the subject of this paper. Weather parameters impact indoor radon levels and have already been investigated, but rarely in Switzerland. Moreover, there is a strong need for a better understanding of the radon behaviour inside buildings in Switzerland for public health concerns as Switzerland is a radon prone area. Based on long-term, continuous, and hourly radon measurements, radon distributions classified according to different weather event definitions were investigated and then compared at three different study sites in Western Switzerland. Outdoor temperature influences the most indoor radon, and it is globally anti-correlated. Wind influences indoor radon, but it strongly depends on intensity, direction, and building characteristics. Precipitation influences periodically indoor radon levels relatively to their intensity. Atmospheric pressure and relative humidity do not seem to be huge determinants on IRC. Our results are in line with previous findings and provide a vivid example in Western Switzerland. This paper underlines the different influence complexities of radon, and the need to communicate about it within the broader public and with construction professionals, to raise awareness.

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SPATIAL VARIABILITY OF INDOOR RADON CONCENTRATION IN SCHOOLS: IMPLICATIONS ON RADON MEASUREMENT PROTOCOLS

Radiation Protection Dosimetry ◽

10.1093/rpd/ncaa137 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 191 (2) ◽

pp. 133-137

Author(s):

Z Curguz ◽

G Venoso ◽

Z S Zunic ◽

D Mirjanic ◽

M Ampollini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spatial Variability ◽

Radon Concentration ◽

Indoor Radon ◽

Reference Level ◽

Indoor Radon Concentration ◽

Radon Measurement ◽

Ground Floor ◽

Preliminary Study ◽

The Republic ◽

Radon Measurements

Abstract The requirements about radon measurements in schools and public buildings included in most of the national and international legislations are generally restricted to all the rooms located at the ground floor and basement, assuming the soil beneath the building as the main source of indoor radon. In order to verify such an assumption for small buildings having at maximum two floors, a preliminary study was performed in 50 schools located in 15 municipalities of the Republic of Srpska. Results of this study suggest that a protocol requiring measurements at the ground floor only may be considered adequate. Due to the high radon spatial variability for rooms at the ground floor, it is preferable to require measurements in a high number of rooms (preferably in all of them) in order to assess the compliance with the reference level established by the legislation.

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Influence of some specific meteorological events on indoor radon dynamic in western Switzerland

Journal of Physics Conference Series ◽

10.1088/1742-6596/2042/1/012138 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2042 (1) ◽

pp. 012138

Author(s):

J Rey ◽

S Goyette ◽

M Palacios ◽

F Barazza ◽

M Gandolla ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Statistical Analysis ◽

Air Temperature ◽

Meteorological Parameters ◽

Indoor Radon ◽

Indoor Environments ◽

Outdoor Air ◽

Indoor Radon Concentration ◽

Weather Events ◽

The World ◽

Basic Statistical Analysis

Abstract Radon is a natural radioactive gas that may cumulate in indoor environments. The impacts of weather events on indoor radon concentration had been explored in different places around the world but only marginally in Switzerland. Using basic statistical analysis, this study investigates different meteorological parameters’ influence on indoor radon concentrations and shows that outdoor air temperature is the most influential beyond others. Finally, this paper highlights the importance of radon dynamic in buildings, a topic often overlooked by construction professionals and the broader public in Switzerland.

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Problems in radon measurements in context of epidemiological studies

Archive of oncology ◽

10.2298/aoo0401013y ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 13-17 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ilia Yarmoshenko ◽

Ivan Kirdin

Keyword(s):

Temporal Variation ◽

Indoor Radon ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Radon Progeny ◽

Indoor Radon Concentration ◽

Special Investigation ◽

Equilibrium Factor ◽

Average Value ◽

Long Time ◽

Gas Measurements

Epidemiological case control study is considered to be primary instrument to investigate the relationship between population indoor radon exposure and risk of lung cancer. A number of such studies had been completed in last 15 years and others are running now. Considering indoor radon and progeny some specific efforts should be undertaken to assess the exposure. While the lungs exposure after inhalation arises mainly due to radon progeny, in the case of the radon gas measurements application the researchers have to address the disequilibrium between radon and radon progeny. It is widely accepted by researchers and approved by ICRP that worldwide average value of equilibrium factor is 0.4 though real equilibrium factor value can deviate significantly from average. Temporal variation of indoor radon concentration complicates the evaluation of exposure as well. Three types of variation can be emphasized: diurnal, seasonal and long time. Experimental and modeling investigation of radon entry shown that pattern of indoor radon temporal variation firmly depends on relationship between entry rates of primary radon sources (diffusive and advective) and influencing factors are construction characteristics, climatic condition and life style. To find appropriate parameters describing radon disequilibrium and temporal variation it is necessary to perform special investigation in the representative sample of houses.

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Measurment of radon, thoron and their progeny in indoor environment of Mohali, Punjab, Northern India, using pinhole dosimeters

Nuclear Technology and Radiation Protection ◽

10.2298/ntrp1603299m ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 31 (3) ◽

pp. 299-305 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Vimal Mehta ◽

Deep Shikha ◽

Pal Singh ◽

Pal Chauhan ◽

Singh Mudahar

Keyword(s):

Indoor Radon ◽

Area Measurement ◽

Indoor Environments ◽

Indoor Radon Concentration ◽

Annual Dose ◽

Northern India ◽

Decay Products ◽

Radon Monitor ◽

Thoron Progeny

The health hazards of radon and its decay products above certain levels are well known. However, for any preventive measures to be taken, we have to be aware of radon levels of that particular area. Measurement of radon and its decay products in indoor environments is an important aspect of assessing indoor air quality and health conditions associated with it. Keeping this in mind, measurements of radon, thoron and their progeny concentrations were carried out in Mohali, Northern India, using pinhole-based twin cup dosimeters. Radon exhalation rates of soil samples in the dwellings/areas were measured via an active technique of a continuous radon monitor. The indoor radon concentration in Mohali varied from 15.03 ? 0.61 Bq/m3 to 39.21 ? 1.46 Bq/m3 with an average of 26.95 Bq/m3 ,while thoron concentration in the same dwellings varied from 9.62 ? 0.54 Bq/m3 to 52.84 ? 2.77 Bq/m3 with an average of 31.09 Bq/m3. Radon progeny levels in dwellings under study varied from 1.63 to 4.24 mWL, with an average of 2.94 mWL, while thoron progeny levels varied from 0.26 to 1.43 mWL , with an average of 0.84 mWL. The annual dose received by the inhabitants of dwellings under study varied from 0.78 to 2.36 mSv, with an average of 1.61 mSv. The in situ gamma dose rate varied from 0.12 to 0.32 mSv/h.

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Variation of indoor radon concentration and ambient dose equivalent rate in different outdoor and indoor environments

Radiation and Environmental Biophysics ◽

10.1007/s00411-016-0640-y ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 55 (2) ◽

pp. 171-183 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Zdenka Stojanovska ◽

Blazo Boev ◽

Zora S. Zunic ◽

Kremena Ivanova ◽

Mimoza Ristova ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Radon Concentration ◽

Indoor Radon ◽

Indoor Environments ◽

Dose Equivalent ◽

Indoor Radon Concentration ◽

Equivalent Rate ◽

Ambient Dose Equivalent ◽

Ambient Dose

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Comparison of Predicted and Measured Variations of Indoor Radon Concentration

Radiation Protection Dosimetry ◽

10.1093/oxfordjournals.rpd.a080276 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 24 (1-4) ◽

pp. 231-235 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

H. Arvela ◽

A. Voutilainen ◽

I. Mäkeläinen ◽

O. Castrén ◽

K. Winqvist

Keyword(s):

Seasonal Variations ◽

Radon Concentration ◽

Pressure Difference ◽

Indoor Radon ◽

Indoor Radon Concentration ◽

Entry Rate ◽

Concrete Walls ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Air Infiltration ◽

Concentration Ratios

Abstract Prediction of the variations of indoor radon concentration were calculated using a model relating indoor radon concentration to radon entry rate, air infiltration and meteorological factors. These calculated variations have been compared with seasonal variations of 33 houses during 1-4 years, with winter-summer concentration ratios of 300 houses and the measured dirunal variation. In houses with a slab in ground contact the measured seasonal variations are quite often in agreement with variations predicted for nearly pure pressure difference driven flow. The contribution of a diffusion source is significant in houses with large porous concrete walls against the ground. Air flow due to seasonally variable thermal convection within eskers strongly affects the seasonal variations within houses located thereon. Measured and predicted winter-summer concentration ratios demonstrate that, on average, the ratio is a function of radon concentration. The ratio increases with increasing winter concentration. According to the model the diurnal maximum caused by a pressure difference driven flow occurs in the morning, a finding which is in agreement with the measurements. The model presented can be used for differentiating between factors affecting radon entry into houses.

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