Radon Concentration Measurements Research Articles

Measurement of indoor radon concentrations and doses assessment in the area of Tuzla Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Measurement of indoor radon concentrations and doses assessment in the area of Tuzla Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Radon concentration measurement with a high-sensitivity radon detector at the Yemilab

The radiation emitted from radon is a critical background in rare event search experiments conducted at the Yemi Underground Laboratory (Yemilab) in Jeongseon, Korea. A Radon Reduction System (RRS) has been developed and installed in Yemilab to reduce radon concentration in the air. The RRS primarily provides a purified air of 50 m3/h to the cleanroom used to assemble crystal detectors in the AMoRE, a neutrinoless double beta decay search experiment. RRS can reduce the radon level by a factor of 300, so a high-sensitivity radon detector was required. A highly sensitive radon detector was constructed using a 70 L chamber with a large PIN photodiode to measure radon concentration in the purified air. The radon detector shows an excellent resolution of 72 keV (FWHM) for 6.003 MeV alphas from 218Po decay and a sensitivity down to 23.8 ± 2.1 mBq/m3 with a boil-off N2 gas sample. The radon concentration level from the RRS measured by the radon detector was below 0.29 Bq/m3 with a reduction factor of about 300.

Enhancing radon detection accuracy with charcoal canister: A simple method for measuring radon

Charcoal canisters are widely used devices for measuring radon concentration in the atmosphere, but they are sensitive to humidity. A newly designed super absorbent polymer (SAP) filter was applied to charcoal canisters to enhance their resistance to ambient humidity, thereby improving the accuracy of radon concentration measurements. The charcoal canister with the SAP filter had an error of approximately 1.3–2.6% compared to the reference value (measured by RAD7), whereas the charcoal canister without the SAP filter exhibited an error of 12–18% compared to the reference value. Additionally, the charcoal canister with the SAP filter demonstrated over 90% of response value even under very high relative humidity conditions of 90%, indicating strong resistance to ambient humidity.

Radon Concentration Level in Selected offices at Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun State

Radon, a radioactive gas that emanates naturally from the earth crust is accountable for about 50% of the effective dose of ionizing radiation received by humans. Most radon susceptiveness occurs in homes and work places, it comes from the natural disintegration of uranium in soil, rock and water and escalate to the air that we breath, hence it is important to monitor the actual level of exposure in most buildings. This work analysed the indoor radon concentration in air at twenty different offices of different building at Bells University of Technology using Rad7 detector. The mean measured radon concentration ranges from 0-56.7 Bq/m3 for all the study locations. The mean absorbed dose, equivalent dose and effective dose were calculated with the radon concentration which are 0.152 mGy/y, 3.045 mSv/y and 0.365 mSv/y respectively. The results obtained are below the world set limit as recommended by International Commission on radiological protection, except for office 7 which slightly exceed the recommended limit. Thus, the study concluded that good ventilation is very important in the reduction of radon concentration level in our work places.

Risk assessment of radon exposure inside residential dwellings in Safi city, Morocco

ABSTRACT A radon study was conducted in 50 residences in Safi city, Morocco, using LR-115 detectors. The annual effective dose and Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk were also estimated. The measured radon concentrations ranged between the Lower Limit of Detection (LLD) and 132 Bq.m−3 with an arithmetic mean of 53 Bq.m−3 and a geometric mean of 41 Bq.m−3 (2.32). The results indicated that 58% of the obtained values exceeded the worldwide average value (39 Bq.m−3). In addition, the results revealed significant impacts of floor level and region on indoor radon levels. Inhabitants of the surveyed houses were found to receive a mean annual effective dose of 1.5 ± 0.1 mSv.y−1, corresponding to an Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk of 0.6%. Importantly, all annual effective dose values were below the recommended action level by the ICRP (3–10 mSv.y−1). Using the Ordinary Kriging method implemented in the QGIS software, an indoor radon map was created based on the collected data. The findings in this study serve as baseline values for future studies concerning radon concentrations and their fluctuations.

Counting alpha particles produced by radon daughters using commercial off-the-shelf complementary metal oxide semiconductor (COTS CMOS) image sensors

Radon (Rn-222) is the main source of radiation exposure to human beings from natural radiation; it is of great significance to study the measuring methods and measuring instruments of radon for natural radiation protection. In recent years, the application of pixel detectors in radiation detection has attracted attention. In this paper, a Commercial Off-the-Shelf Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (COTS CMOS) image sensor which replaces the glass for protection covering in front of the sensors was used to perform a series of measurements to identify alpha particles. During the experiment, the CMOS image sensor was used to record a video during the sampling period, and then use the FFmpeg software to take screenshots of the video by frame. MATLAB was used to count bright spots from the image frames. A measurement chamber was designed to measure radon concentrations, and when the relative humidity was constant, the count of alpha particles by the CMOS image sensor increased along with the increase of the concentration. The experiments verified the feasibility of the low-cost COTS CMOS image sensors to monitor radon.

Development of low-radon ultra-pure water for the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory

The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) is a state-of-the-art liquid scintillator-based neutrino physics experiment under construction in South China. To reduce the background from external radioactivities, a water Cherenkov detector composed of 35 kton ultra-pure water and 2,400 20-inch photomultiplier tubes is developed. Even after specialized treatment, ultra-pure water still contains trace levels of radioactive elements that can contribute to the detector background. Among which 222Rn is particularly significant. To address this, an online radon removal system based on the JUNO prototype has been developed. By integrating micro-bubble generators to enhance degasser’s radon removal efficiency, the radon concentration in water can be reduced to 1 mBq/m3 level, meeting the stringent requirements of JUNO. Additionally, a highly sensitive online radon concentration measurement system capable of detecting concentrations ∼1 mBq/m3 has been developed to monitor the radon concentration in water. In this paper, the details regarding both systems will be presented.

Environmental radon, fracking wells, and lymphoma in dogs.

Multicentric lymphoma (ML) in dogs resembles non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in humans. Human NHL is associated with multiple environmental exposures, including to radon and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The objective of this study was to determine whether ML in dogs was associated with environmental radon or proximity to horizontal oil and drilling (fracking), a source of VOC pollution. We identified dogs from the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study that developed ML (n = 52) along with matched controls (n = 104). Dog home addresses were categorized by Environmental Protection Agency radon zone and average residential radon by county, as well as by distance from fracking and associated wastewater wells. We found no significant differences in county level radon measurements. Individual household radon measurements were not available. There was no difference in residential proximity to active fracking wells between dogs with ML and unaffected dogs. While dogs with ML lived closer to wastewater wells (123 vs 206 km; P = .01), there was no difference in the percentage of cases vs controls that lived in close proximity (20 km) to a fracking well (11.5% for cases, 6.7% for controls; OR 1.81, 95% CI 0.55 to 5.22; P = .36), or a wastewater well (6.7% for cases, 4.4% for controls; P > .99). These data suggest that more proximate sources of chemical exposures need to be assessed in dogs with ML, including measurements of individual household radon and household VOC concentrations.

Radon Levels and Risk Assessment due to its Ingestion and Inhalation from Groundwater of Lapai, North-Central Nigeria

Radon exposure through ingestion or inhalation from groundwater can be a significant public health concern due to its carcinogenic effects. This study assessed the health risks of radon exposure from groundwater in Lapai, Nigeria, using a Rad7 detector to measure radon concentration levels. The measured concentrations ranged from 5.36 ± 0.22 BqL-1 to 0.52 ± 0.06 BqL-1 with an average value of 2.82 ± 0.14 BqL-1. The annual effect dose due to ingestion of Radon obtained varies in the range of 2.76 to 28.34 μSva-1, 1.02 to 10.43 μSva-1, and 1.33 to 13.69 μSva-1 for infants, children, and adults, respectively. While the effective dose per year from inhalation of Radon released from water by adults has values in the range of 1.31 to 13.50 μSva-1. Radon levels were within permissible limits of UNSCEAR and USEPA, and the annual effective doses from inhalation and ingestion were within WHO's safe range. Nonetheless, monitoring is advised, especially during the rainy season when contamination levels may increase.

Automatic tracking of the energy spectrum areas of Po-218 and Po-214 at various temperatures

Radon and its decay products emit internal radiation in the respiratory system upon inhalation, which is a significant contributor to the development of lung cancer in humans. Accurate measurement of radon concentration is undoubtedly very important. Among the commonly used radon measurement methods, the electrostatic collection method stands out. This method involves counting the energy spectrum peaks of alpha particles, generated by the decay of radon daughters Po-218 and Po-214, which are collected on the surface of a semiconductor detector to determine radon concentration. According to experimental findings, measurements at different ambient temperatures cause Po-218 and Po-214 to peak drift. This drift adversely affects the accuracy of radon measurement using traditional methods. This study focuses on the characteristics of α-energy spectra from Po-218 and Po-214. It calculates the peak heights for all α-energy spectra and identifies the two peaks with the highest heights. Subsequently, an algorithm is developed to automatically track the peak positions of Po-218 and Po-214, accurately locating their counting intervals. The results demonstrate that the algorithm successfully achieves the desired outcomes through experiments conducted at different temperatures and measurement durations, thus validating its effectiveness. This method holds significant practical value in ensuring the accuracy of radon measurement.

An Evaluation of Radon Concentrations in Arin Lake, Bitlis

Arin Lake, situated in the Bitlis province, is a soda lake that holds significant ecological importance as a habitat for migratory bird species such as flamingos and white-headed ducks. In order to investigate the potential radiation exposure to the environment and living organisms in the area, radon concentration levels and dose calculations were determined for water samples collected from 27 different points in Arin Lake. The radon levels were determined using the AlphaGUARD PQ2000 PRO radon monitoring system, which has the range of 2–2.106 Bqm−3. The results of the radon concentration measurements are between 0.06 and 0.39 Bq/L, with a mean of value of 0.17 Bq/L. The annual effective doses for ingestion (Deff-ing) and inhalation (Deff-inh) were calculated at values ranging from 0.14 to 0.99 µSv/year. The radon levels were found to be lower than international standard values. Furthermore, the outcomes of this research were subjected to comparison with other studies in the literature.

Preliminary studies on radon concentration in CO2-rich mineral waters of the Elbrus area (Caucasus, Russia)

The geological and geochemical conditions as well as radon concentrations of ten manifestations of СО2-rich waters in the Elbrus area are considered in this paper. Also, content of uranium and thorium were measured in waters and in host rocks. The data were compared with chemical and isotopic composition of associated gases. It is established that water bearing rocks are classified into rocks of low and normal radioactivity. The contents of uranium (<1.37 μg/L) and thorium (<0.3 μg/L) in the water are low. Measurements of radon concentrations in water and gas flux of mineral springs in the Elbrus area indicate that most of them are weakly radioactive (6–33 Bq/L, 25-350 Bq/m3, respectively). The CO2-rich mineral waters of the Tyrnyauz exhibit the highest level of radioactivity (33 Bq/L) within the Elbrus area. Isotopical gas studies have shown that within the Elbrus region there is a connection with the deep horizons of the Earth's crust, from which various fluids (water and gases) can rise to the surface. Although Rn values are low and cannot be used for medical purposes, natural objects with similar characteristics can be used to observe the state of the geological environment (e.g. earthquakes) and as natural laboratories to establish the mechanisms of deep gas migration to the surface.

Measurement of Radon Concentration and Estimation of Cancer Risk in Twenty-Four Model Houses in the Town of Koudougou

Measurement of Radon Concentration and Estimation of Cancer Risk in Twenty-Four Model Houses in the Town of Koudougou

The first test of indoor air quality in kindergartens of the Republic of Srpska

The first experimental results of the indoor air quality in two kindergartens located in the Republic of Srpska are presented in this paper. Kindergarten representatives for the year of construction (old and new), building materials, and energy efficiency have been chosen. Indoor air quality measurements (air temperature, relative humidity, ventilation rate, CO2, and radon concentration) were performed during the winter of 2015/2016. Measured indoor air quality parameters are discussed and compared to the international standards BAS EN 16798-1, ASHRAE 62.1, and ISO 7730. The average measured radon concentrations for both buildings have not exceeded the level of 200 Bq/m3, but for reliable results, long-term measurement needs to be performed. The CO2 concentration in the old kindergarten fulfills the BAS EN 16798-1 requirement for Category I during 62.43% of total occupancy time, while for the new kindergarten, it is only 5.79% of full occupancy time. Results of CO2 concentration confirm that good sealing of the envelope of new buildings and user behavior (number of users and natural ventilation) does affect air quality. Furthermore, a high correlation between CO2 concentration and relative humidity in both buildings and a more considerable correlation for the new building have been observed.

Исследование аэрогазодинамических процессов переноса радона из горных массивов

Introduction. Drying tailings are a source of gaseous chemicals, in particular radon222, which is carried by air currents along the slopes of the gorge. These processes need constant monitoring. Purpose of research. Establishment of climatic conditions most influencing the measurements of mountain radon and its dispersion in the atmosphere. Research methods and materials. The data of weather stations located in the Alagir mountain gorge and the data of the mathematical model of this gorge were used to establish the characteristic wind roses at the points of the gorge selected for field measurements of mountain radon. Research results. It has been established that at the nearby points of the mountain gorge, the prevailing direction and strength of the wind can differ significantly. The differences depend on the landscape features of the surface of the slopes of the mountain gorge. This factor determines the direction of migration of chemical elements and decay products of mountain radon. This conclusion is confirmed by direct measurement of wind speed at two points in the gorge, as well as by the results of mathematical modeling. Discussion of research results. A preliminary calculation of the passive impurity concentration field within the mountain gorge shows the most characteristic places on the slopes of the gorge from the point of view of measurements. Preliminary algorithm for choosing the location of measurements. Determination of 210Pb content in natural «traps» or sediments can determine the migration paths of «mountain» radon and estimate the magnitude of its interaction with the nature of the gorge, subject to the following assumptions: 1) certain sampling sites are not subject to significant seasonal disturbances; 2) natural and climatic conditions, especially the amount of precipitation, in the studied gorge should not have abnormal changes before sampling; 3) sampling should preferably be carried out in autumn on fallen leaves in hollows, where post-sedimentary migration is limited. Approbation of the proposed measurement technique is discussed. Conclusion. The prevailing winds in the side arms of mountain gorges can differ significantly from the wind rose observed in the main part of the gorge and are determined mainly by landscape features near the observation point. This must be taken into account when measuring and analyzing the direction of migration of chemicals in mountain gorges. Mathematical modeling of aerodynamic processes in mountainous regions is a proven method for studying physical processes in mountain gorges, as well as the processes of dispersion of volatile geochemical elements emitted by sources in mountain gorges. It is shown that at the nearby points of the mountain gorge, the wind roses can differ significantly, which is confirmed by both measurements and mathematical modeling. This dictates the need for observations and taking into account the local wind rose at each measurement point. The results of radon measurements are presented, confirming the effectiveness of the proposed technique. Resume. 1. The article presents the results of mathematical modeling of aerodynamic processes in mountain gorges and the spread of gaseous impurities in the air. 2. It has been established that wind roses at nearby points on the slopes of a mountain gorge can differ significantly, both in the results of the mathematical model and in the results of measurements from weather stations. It is shown that the agreement between the modeling and measurement results is satisfactory. 3. The research results can be useful in planning measurements of radon concentrations as a predictive map of the distribution of mountain radon concentrations.

Radon concentration in spring water as an indicator of seismic activity: a case study of the Muzaffarabad Fault in Pakistan.

Radon and its progenies found in water indicate the existence of seismically active faults in the region. However, exposure to high levels of radon can also result in radiation-related health risks. This study focuses on radon-based active tectonic studies along the Muzaffarabad Fault in the core of the Hazara-Kashmir Syntaxis (HKS), NW Himalayas, Pakistan. In this study, spring water samples were collected along roadside of Jhelum Valley and in close proximity to the Muzaffarabad Fault in Pakistan using Radon Thoron Monitor (RTM1688-2). The results of the study showed that the radon concentrations in the water samples ranged from 1.895 to 17.097 Bq/l. The study found that the highest radon concentration was observed in the samples collected closest to the fault, while the lowest concentration was observed in the samples collected further away. The statistical analysis between the radon concentration and the distance from the fault showed a strong inverse relationship (R2=0.73). The study also found that 68% of the sampling sites had radon concentrations that exceeded the maximum contamination level (MCL) set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The higher radon concentrations in the springs water suggest the probability of earthquake, which in turn poses potential health risks for the local population. The findings suggest that the measurement of radon concentration in water can be used as a tool for identifying seismically active faults in the region.

222Rn in selected waters sources from Quang Nam - Da Nang region - Central part of Vietnam

This paper presents the radon concentrations of forty-eight samples collected from lakes, streams and rivers as surface water, from dug well as ground water and from boreholes and thermal waters as underground waters in the Da Nang – Quang Nam, central part of Vietnam. The measured radon concentrations varied from 0.265 (in lake water) to 107 Bq L−1 (in underground water) with the following trend from the lowest to the highest: 222Rn in lakes<222Rn in rivers<222Rn in stream<222Rn in dug wells<222Rn in thermal waters<222Rn in drilled wells. Overall, the average 222Rn concentration in groundwater is twelve times higher than that in the surface water.Assuming that each person drinks 2.10−3 m3 d−1 and uses six cubic meters for washing purposes per month, the estimated total annual effective dose due to ingestion and inhalation of radon from the studied water samples ranges from 1.3 to 541 μSv y−1 for adults; from 1.2 to 479 μSv y−1 for children; and from 2.1 to 838 μSv y−1 for infants.

Estimation of radiation dose due to thoron and progeny inhalation in high background natural radiation area of Odisha, India

Abstract Results of the preliminary measurements of indoor radon, thoron and progeny concentrations showed very high values of thoron concentrations in the eastern coastal region of Odisha, India. Therefore, measurements of thoron and its progeny concentrations were extended to a larger number of houses in this area for the assessment of the radiation dose received by the public. The measured values of thoron concentrations were used for the calculation of annual effective doses. The estimated values of the annual effective dose due to thoron exposure were observed in the range of 0.2–14.7 mSv. The estimated radiation doses responsible for thoron exposure were observed considerably high in the region. The results obtained are compared with those obtained in other studies performed so far in the study area and a review of different studies involving different measurement techniques is presented in the paper. The results of this study support the preliminary studies showing high values of thoron levels in the study area.

Measurement of soil radon concentration in Balikesir and examination of its effects on health

Most of the natural radiation originates from radon, approximately 55%. This radiation occurs because of the radioactive decay of natural uranium found in rocks, soil and water. Because radon is in gaseous form, it can easily leak into living spaces and accumulate. Inhalation of radon and radon decay products is a significant health risk factor. Considering the high mortality rate of lung cancer in our country, inhalation of high radon concentrations has been associated with the risk of lung cancer. Accurate measurement of radon levels is especially important for dose assessment of radon exposure. In this study, it was aimed to determine the natural radon concentrations in Balikesir province and districts using the active method by soil measurement using the AlphaGUARD portable radon detector, and to perform radiological risk analyzes by determining the radon levels of the region covering Balikesir Province by measuring the natural radiation emitted from the soil. As a result of the measurements, the lowest radon concentration amount was measured in Akcay district of Balikesir province and its average value is 17.65 ± 2.71 kBq/m3. The humidity in the environment is 72.34%, the average pressure is 1013.61 hPa and the average temperature is 33.02 °C. The highest radon concentration amount was measured in Havran district of Balikesir province and its average value is 66.71 ± 2.52 kBq/m3. The humidity in the environment is 58.61%, the average pressure is 1007.91 hPa and the average temperature is 31.80 °C.

Indoor radon concentration levels in some selected offices at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Nigeria and its attendant annual effective dose

Although radon concentrations in outdoor environments are generally low, the indoor concentrations can become appreciably high thereby affecting the indoor air quality and causing some severe health challenges. Thirty (30) offices from the ground floor and first floor of some buildings within Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) University campus, Lapai Nigeria, were randomly selected for indoor radon concentration (CRn) measurement using RAD7 continuous radon monitor. Annual effective dose was also computed to determine the level of public exposure. The results showed that radon concentration values for all the offices on the ground floor ranged between 9.6±2.7 Bqm−3 and 90.7±8.1 Bqm−3, with mean value of 28.5±4.8 Bqm−3 while the range of radon concentration at first floor was 2.5±1.4 Bqm−3 - 80.4±7.5 Bqm−3. All the measured indoor radon concentration levels were less than the 100 Bqm−3 action level proposed by World Health Organization (WHO). Average annual absorbed dose for both ground and first floors were 0.36±0.06 mSvy−1 and 0.24±0.05 mSvy−1 respectively, with corresponding mean annual effective dose of 0.86±0.15 mSvy−1 and 0.58±0.11 mSvy−1 in sequence. These values were below the 1.0 mSvy−1 safety limit set for public. Although the results did not suggest any immediate exposure threat to the public, it is important that the University staffs are adequately informed of indoor radon levels and its attendant health hazards. Improved and adequate ventilation of all the office buildings is highly encouraged in order to keep the radon levels as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA).