Modeling of the Distribution of Radon and Its Decay in a Traditional Hammam: Dose to Adult Members of the Public

Abstract

Radon and its descendants are the main causes of lung cancer in non-smokers. Therefore, the study of the behavior of radon and its descendants in indoor air is of the highest importance, in ordre to limit the risk of radiation dose due to inhalation of indoor air by members of the public. This article focuses to study the effect of meteorological parameters on the concentration and distribution of radon and its descendants inside a traditional Hammam by using CFD simulation. The results of modeling are qualitative and show that the concentration and distribution of radon and its descendants decrease when the ventilation rate increases, as well as, as the temperature increases; however, it increases with the increase relative humidity. Moreover, the committed equivalent doses due to ²¹⁸Po and ²¹⁴Po radon short-lived progeny were evaluated in different tissues of the respiratory tract of the members of the public from the inhalation of air inside the traditional Hammam. The influence of the activity of ²¹⁸Po and ²¹⁴Po and mass of the tissue on the committed equivalent doses per hour of exposure was investigated. The annual effective dose due to radon short-lived progeny from the inhalation of air inside the traditional Hammam by the members of the public was investigated.