scholarly journals The Dependence of Volumetric Radon Activity in Indoor Air on Environmental Conditions

2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (7) ◽  
pp. 197-209
Author(s):  
Ingrida Pliopaite Bataitiene ◽  
Raimondas Grubliauskas ◽  
Raimondas Buckus ◽  
Tatjana Juzsakova ◽  
Igor Cretescu

The radon isotope, 222Rn, has a significant impact on human beings due to the irradiation caused illnesses. The article deals with the process of radon entering into residential buildings and its residential exposure level related to changes in environmental parameters such as temperature, pressure and moisture content. Dependence of the indoor radon activity on environmental factors has been studied at three sites: two multi-storey and one low-rise buildings in autumn (September � November 2014) period. During the study period radon activity values in low-rise house constructed in 2009, in Lithuania at Ukmerge district, Jogvil� village, ranged from 73 � 13 to 747 � 134 Bq m-3 and the average value was 382 � 76 Bq m-3. This value is higher than the allowed average activity value of 300 Bq m-3 and could present a radiological risk for inhabitants if the above mentioned parameters are not taken into account.

2020 ◽  
pp. 1420326X2094036
Author(s):  
Vittoria D'Avino ◽  
Mariagabriella Pugliese ◽  
Giuseppe La Verde

The effectiveness of the increase in passive ventilation was studied as remedial action for high concentrations of indoor radon gas activity. The rationale has been to apply the provisions of Directive 2013/59/EURATOM, partially implemented by a regional law of Puglia Region (Southern Italy). Residential buildings were selected based on characteristics common to those of commercial premises, which are the recipients of legislative obligations. The final goal of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of carrying out the same remediation activity for both types of buildings. From a previous survey in Puglia in 2013–2014, 18 houses were selected and passive ventilation strategy was applied in order to evaluate its effect on the radon activity concentration. A specially designed protocol defined frequency and time of windows operation. The average value of the annual measurement revealed a significant reduction of the internal radon activity concentration: mitigation ranged from 21 ± 5% to 58 ± 2% with an average value of 33 ± 3%. The results of the study showed that passive ventilation is an effective method of mitigation of the internal radon concentration if correctly designed according to the local characteristics of the buildings and habits of the occupants.


Author(s):  
Timofey Leshukov ◽  
Aleksey Larionov ◽  
Konstantin Legoshchin ◽  
Yuriy Lesin ◽  
Svetlana Yakovleva

222Rn is a specific indoor-type pollutant that represents a primary radiological hazard as a main source of ionizing radiation (IR) for humans. Coal mining creates new sources of gas that are formed over mines. This process can significantly increase the density of radon flux. Therefore, the concentration of radon in a room can increase. We investigated the territory of the Leninsk-Kuznetsky district of the Kemerovo region, which is subject to underground mining. Two groups of residential locations and measuring points of radon flux density were selected to identify the higher emanation relationship of radon and mining-affected areas. The first group (Case group) included subjects located within the territory of the underground mine; the other (Control group) included subjects in an area without mining. Radon flux density in coal mining areas was significantly higher than in the rest of the territory; moreover, the percentage of values in the Case group that had a radon flux density above 80 mBq·m−2·s−1 was 64.53%. For the Case group, 20.62% of residential buildings had a radon concentration above 200 Bq/m3. For the studied area, the radon flux density correlates positively (r = 0.79, p = 0.002) with indoor radon. Additional clastogenic/aneugenic effects are also found in dwellings with increased volume activity of radon (VAR) within the territories of underground mines. Ring chromosomes are positively correlated with radon levels in smoker groups but not in non-smokers. An increased frequency of binucleated (BN) cells with micronuclei (MN) is also positively correlated with VAR regardless of smoking status. It has been concluded that reducing the total exposure level of a population to radon can be achieved by monitoring areas with underground mines where radon is emitted heavily.


Author(s):  
Ali Abid Abojassim

Abstract In this research , radon concentrations (222Rn) in brick samples that are available in Iraqi markets were measured using solid state nuclear track (CR-39). Also, uranium-238 (238U), radium-226 (226Ra) were calculated in all samples under study together with some radiation parameters such as exhalation of radon gas rate (FO), annual effective dose (DRn ) and Excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR). It was found that, the average value of 222Rn, 238U and 226Ra concentrations in studied samples were 48.75± 10.61Bq/m3, 0.084± 0.02 ppm and 115.57± 29.60 mBq/kg respectively. Also, it was found that the average of each of FO, DRn and ELCR were 27.54± 5.99 µBq.m-2.h-1, 0.88± 0.17 nSvy-1, and (3.01± 0.65)×10-3, respectively. After data analysis, the resulted data were examined and compared with the global average and the permissible limits which recommended by the international scientific agencies such as International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP 2010), United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR 2017), Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD2009). It was found that radiation levels from brick samples used in local markets for most models fell within the permissible limits and may not cause any danger to human beings.


2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (02) ◽  
pp. 521-529
Author(s):  
Xi Chen

As there is a frequent occurrence of haze during the heating season in China’s severely cold regions, the environmental parameters of the three types of buildings in Daqing were monitored to investigate the concentration and exposure level of particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5). The short-term exposure levels of PM2.5for people of different ages and genders were analyzed. The composition and diversity of bacteria were analyzed using 16S rDNA technology. The results showed that the average PM2.5 concentrations of office buildings were higher than that of residential buildings, which was then higher than that of teaching buildings in Daqing. The exposure level of adults in urban areas was 12.0% higher than those in rural areas. Children had almost the same overall exposure. The potential comprehensive dose and its average dose for adults in urban areas were higher than those in rural areas, and the number of males was higher than females. The risk of exposure increased with age and was higher for males than females. Among the three types of buildings in Daqing, the main bacteria were Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. In the same type of buildings, the total number of bacteria was higher outdoors than indoors and the alpha diversity of bacteria was higher outdoors than indoors. © 2021 Friends Science Publishers


2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kremena Ivanova ◽  
Victor Badulin

Radon exposure situations have the characteristics of existing exposure situations since the source is unmodified concentrations of ubiquitous natural activity in the earth’s crust. Human activities may create or modify pathways increasing indoor radon concentration compared to outdoor background. The mining and processing of uranium bearing minerals generate a variety of waste materials containing a number of radioactive and non-radioactive hazardous constituents. Conventional underground and open pit mining activities produce overburden, mineralized waste and barren waste rock, which are generally low in their uranium and thorium contents and are left at the mine site. The study focuses on regions of former uranium mining industries, where the radiological risk is higher. Methods: The cumulative (passive) method was used for the study. The measurements are carried out by E PERM® system. Detectors are placed for approximately 6 months in randomly selected houses in former uranium mining sites - Sliven-villages area, Eleshnica and Bachkovo. These sites are situated in mountains in different part of Bulgaria. Results: The results of indoor radon concentration for investigation villages range from 125 Bq/m3 to 4000 Bq/m3. The maximum concentration was measured in Bachkovo village in Rodopi Mountain. This village is the least affected by the former uranium mining industry. Conclusion: The results prove assumption that former uranium mining sites are radon prone areas where radiological risk is higher. The level of indoor radon of residential buildings in areas with higher uranium availability is around or above the recommended reference radon levels. The maximum value of the concentration of radon is measured in areas less affected by uranium mining, proving the necessity to undertake a radon national survey to determine exact radon prone areas. Key words: Radon concentration, long-term measurement, radon prone areas


2021 ◽  
Vol 1203 (2) ◽  
pp. 022071
Author(s):  
Ingrid Juhasova Senitkova ◽  
Michal Kraus

Abstract Pollution and poor quality of the indoor environment is a common problem in today's residential buildings. These problems are reflected in the well-being and health of the users of these buildings. Targeted identification of the various harmful substances (pollutants) is essential for understanding the interactions of components of the internal environment for the welfare and health of building users. The Czech housing units were selected for screening investigation of indoor air quality. Measuring of indoor chemical factors was performed during the year 2019. The indoor levels of TVOC, nitrogen oxides, indoor radon, and particulate matters PM10 were measured. The results provide introduce data on indoor air quality concerning seasonal changes which were in correlation to air change rate. These results, introduced in this paper, help to understand the indoor pollutants occurrence and help to design next more focused studies.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 57
Author(s):  
Masadah Masadah

Education is a conscious and systematic effort not only to humanize human beings but also for human beings to realize their position as khalifatullah fil ardhi, which in turn will increasingly increase itself to be a pious, faithful, knowledgeable and virtuous man. In general the problems formulated in this research is whether Implementation of Contextual Learning with Learning Community approach can improve student's motivation and achievement in FIQH study field? How Implementation of Contextual Learning has a Learning Community approach that can improve students' motivation and achievement in FIQH? Field. This research was conducted in Mojokerto Regency, precisely at MI Mambaul Hidayah Mengelo Sooko Mojokerto. This research is a classroom action research with collaborative type. This research phase follows a model developed by Kemmis and Taggart, which is a spiral cycle that includes planning activities, action execution, observation, and reflection. The data collection techniques used are: (1) observation; (2) measurement of learning result test; and (3) documentation. Data obtained from the action are then analyzed. Qualitative data consisting of observation and documentation are analyzed qualitatively, while data collected in the form of numbers or quantitative data, simply by using descriptive analysis and visual presentation. Based on the results of research that has been implemented can be concluded that the Implementation of Contextual Learning with Learning Community approach can improve student's motivation and achievement in the field of FIQH study. From the data in the field shows that there is an increase in student learning motivation that the initial average value of pre-test of 20 increased to 24 or about 20% in cycle I, in cycle II more increased to 31 or about 55%, and in cycle III the more increased to 45 or about 125%. Level of increase between cycle I with cycle II about 29%, between cycle II with cycle III about 45%, between cycle III with cycle I about 87%. With the increase of students' learning motivation, their learning achievement also increased, whereas the average value of pre test of 6.60 increased to 6.84 or about 4% in cycle I, in cycle II more increased again to 7.75 or about 17 %, and in cycle III it increases to 8.80 or about 35%. The level of improvement between cycle I with cycle II is about 13%, between cycle II with cycle III about 15%, between cycle III with cycle I about 30%.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gede H Cahyana

Indoor air pollution in closed room is one of the air pollution that gives serious threats to human health. One of them come from vehicle gas emissions in closed parking area. This research identifies and analyses CO concentration measured in Mall X parking man’s breathing zone with closed parking area and in Mall Y semi-opened parking area. CO measurement carried out by passive sampling method using Personal Dosimeter Tubes. Measurement result of CO gas concentration to parking man’s breathing zone in Mall X was 25 – 81,25 ppm with average value in 50 ± 26,15 ppm. Meanwhile CO gas concentration in Mall Y gave result 3,13 – 12,5 ppm with average value in 7,88 ± 4,36 ppm. Correlation value between CO concentration and its intake in Mall X area was 0,9983, meanwhile correlation value between CO concentration and its intake in Mall Y area was 0,9903. It was concluded that CO gas concentration measured in parking man’s breathing zone influenced the differences of CO intake value in significance value.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Dicu ◽  
B. D. Burghele ◽  
M. Botoş ◽  
A. Cucoș ◽  
G. Dobrei ◽  
...  

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.


Buildings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 250
Author(s):  
Chuloh Jung ◽  
Jihad Awad

Due to unprecedented urbanization, UAE had built many new residential projects with poor choices of material and ventilation. This social phenomenon is leading UAE to Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) faster than any other countries. The Dubai Municipality regulates the indoor air quality with strict stipulation, but the detailed regulations are still insufficient. The objective of this paper is to measure the indoor air quality of new residential projects in Dubai to suggest the improvement of the regulations for indoor air quality. As a methodology, a field survey was conducted to investigate the status of indoor air pollution in residential buildings. Based on the field survey data, lab experiments for building materials were conducted and a computer simulation on radon gas was conducted. The result had shown that radon gas was mainly detected in new townhouses and labor camp houses, and its concentration was found to exceed the standard. Volatile organic solvents (VOCs) and formaldehyde (CH2O) were mainly detected in showhouses and new townhouses, and the concentration distribution was about 10 times higher than that of outdoors. It was proven that emission concentration of radon gas from various building materials were detected, and the order was red clay, gypsum board, and concrete. Volatile organic solvents (VOCs) are mainly detected in oil paints and PVC floor and the radiation amount of all pollutants increased with temperature increase. In computer simulation, it was found that a new townhouse needs a grace period from 20 days to 6 months to lower the radon gas concentration by 2 pCi/L. This study will serve as a basic data to establish more detailed regulation for the building materials and improve the IAQ standards in Dubai.


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