Abstract
Radon is a major source of ionizing radiation exposure for the general population. It is known that exposure to radon is a risk factor for the onset of lung cancer. In this study, the results of a radon survey conducted in all districts of a Public Healthcare in Italy, are reported. Measurements of indoor radon were performed using nuclear track detectors, CR-39. The entire survey was conducted according to a well-established quality assurance program. The annual effective dose and excess lifetime cancer risk were also calculated. Results show that the radon concentrations varied from 7 ± 1 Bq/m3 and 5148 ± 772 Bq/m3, with a geometric mean of 67 Bq/m3 and geometric standard deviation of 2.5. The annual effective dose to workers was found to be 1.6 mSv/y and comparable with the worldwide average. In Italy, following the transposition of the European Directive 59/2013, great attention was paid to the radon risk in workplaces. The interest of the workers of the monitored sites was very high and this, certainly contributed to the high return rate of the detectors after exposure and therefore, to the presence of few missing data. Although it was not possible to study the factors affecting radon concentrations, certainly the main advantage of this study is that it was the first in which an entire public health company was monitored in regards to all the premises on the underground and ground floor.
Highlights
The aim of this study is to present the results of a radon survey conducted in 2018–2020 in the underground workplaces and on the ground floor at the Public Healthcare Company
Using Equation (3), the mean annual effective dose received by the workers was estimated to be 1.6 mSv/y, assuming an occupancy factor of 2000 h y−1 for a worker [22,23]
Assuming that the average duration of life is estimated to 70 years and the fatal cancer risk per Sievert is equal to 5.5 × 10−2 Sv−1 as recommended by ICRP 103, the mean excess lung cancer risk (ELCR) was found to be 0.62%
Summary
Radon is a radioactive noble gas belonging to the 238 U radioactive chain, produced by the decay of 226 Ra [1]. It is ubiquitous in the earth’s crust in a concentration dependent on geology [2]. A fraction of radon produced in rocks and soils, escapes into the outdoor atmosphere where it is quickly diluted while, in confined spaces, it tends to accumulate reaching levels of concentration that are dangerous for health [3]. They reach the bronchial tissue where they decay emitting radioactive alpha particles capable of damaging the pulmonary epithelium and thereby causing lung cancer
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