Comparative studies of health hazard from radon (Rn-222) in two selected lithologic formations in the Suwałki region (in Poland)

Abstract

The aim of this work was to make a comparison of indoor radon concentrations in dwellings and in soil air in the area of two geological formations in the Suwałki region (Poland). The mean arithmetic airborne concentration was found to be the highest (301 Bq m −3) in the basements of buildings in the gravel and sand areas, whereas in the boulder clay areas it reached 587 Bq m −3. Out of 54 measurements of radon concentrations performed at the ground floor, in eight cases concentrations were found to exceed 200 Bq m −3—permissible radon level in new-built houses in Poland and in three cases these values were even higher than 400 Bq m −3. The highest radon levels were noted in houses with earthen basement floors and with direct entrance from the basement to rooms or kitchens. The mean arithmetic radon concentration in the soil air in the sandy and gravel formations was 39.7 kBq m −3 and in clay formation it was 26.5 kBq m −3. Higher radon levels were also found in the water obtained from household wells reaching 8367 Bq m −3 as compared with tap water (2690 Bq m −3). The mean indoor concentration for the whole area under study was found to be 169.4 Bq m −3, which is higher than the mean value for Poland (49.1 Bq m −3) by a factor of 3.5.