Health risks in association with indoor radon exposure in Northeastern Romania

Abstract

The radon level was assessed in houses from two rural areas localized in Northeastern Romania. Long-term measurements were performed for a period of four months using a digital radon detector, model Corentium Home, AirThings 222. In addition, for every environment included in the study, investigations concerning the building materials, the floor type, the building year and the heating system were made. Accordingly, Spearman’s correlation coefficients of the study variables were calculated. The World Health Organization recommends an upper threshold of 100 Bq/m3 as a national reference level. For both studied areas, we calculated a mean indoor radon level of more than 100 Bq/m3, but in the Tomesti-Osoi area were recorded values of over 100, respectively 300 Bq/m3 in significantly more households. Indoor exposure to radon of people in the investigated houses was found in 75 and 35.3% of the cases, respectively, above the level accepted by international recommendations, with a moderate correlation between mean radon levels and the features of the residential buildings.