Natural Radioactive Gas Research Articles

Web Search or Conversation with an Artificial Intelligence? Analysis of Misinformation and Relevance in the Case of Radon Gas

Health-related information plays a crucial role in public health management, empowering individuals to make informeddecisions and adopt behaviours that mitigate the effects of potential risks. The internet and the emergence of newtechnologies, such as conversational models equipped with Artificial Intelligence, present opportunities, and challengesin this field. This research focuses specifically on the risk of radon, a natural radioactive gas recognised worldwide asone of the leading causes of lung cancer and a persistent threat over time. The aim of this study is to analyse theinformation provided for this specific risk by two key information access tools: web search engines and AI-basedconversational agents (ChatGPT). To carry out this interdisciplinary research (journalism-communication-computerscience) we employ a mixed methodological design (quantitative and qualitative) and apply methods from the areas ofInformation Retrieval (IR), Big Data, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The results of this study show that information onthe internet about the risk of radon often lacks relevance and does not meet the information needs of users. We alsofound that some websites provide a significant amount of good quality information but there are often some misleadingcontents. ChatGPT proves to be more accurate in providing relevant and good quality information but contains a higherproportion of misinformation. Consequently, this raises concerns about the integrity of the information provided andemphasises the need to monitor and improve the accuracy of these computational tools.

Effect of Seasonal Variation and Soil Parameters on Soil-Gas Radon Concentration in Ogbomoso, South Western Nigeria

Radon 222Rn, an inert natural radioactive gas, a daughter product in the 238U natural decay series, a source of alpha radiation. It accounts for about 55% of the total radiation from natural sources. Radon is known for its substantial variations in concentration due to both seasonal changes and variations in soil parameters. Soil, fractures in rocks and water are the main source of radon and they are the routes through which individual is exposed to it, in which this study is aimed at examining the effects of seasonal variation, soil parameters, on soil radon concentration. A total of hundred (100) in-situ soil radon measurements were carried out for both seasons (wet and dry) in Ogbomoso using an active electronic device RAD 7. Soil parameters were measured using a 4-in-1 digital metre. The obtained experimental data were subjected to a statistical tool (SPSS) Version 23, with statistical significance set at p < 0.01. The result showed that the effect of seasonal variation on soil-gas radon concentration was discovered to be maximum during the dry season with the radon concentration of 1900.01 Bq/m3 and minimum during the wet season with the radon concentration of 711.81 Bq/m3.The mean value of radon in soil-gas was found to be 553.48 Bq/m3 and 1366.34 Bq/m3 for wet and dry season respectively. Soil parameters considered in this work have notable influence on soil gas radon concentration in both seasons. Thus, providing valuable insight into the dynamics of radon migration in the soil. The results will help to develop effective mitigation strategies by policies makers and reducing the risk of radon related lung cancer in the study area.

A sensitive system based on radon amplification at soil-air interface: Aiming to advance earthquake precursor research

Radon, a natural radioactive gas, serves as a valuable tracer in geophysical research and atmospheric science such as detecting stress induced signal in bedrock. However, the conventional radon monitoring methods often lack the sensitivity required to accurately capture such signals. This limitation, coupled with interference from meteorological effects, poses challenges in distinguishing genuine stress-induced signals. In this study, we propose a novel approach utilizing radon concentration gradients at the soil-air interface to enhance sensitivity and detect stress induced radon signals more effectively. Drawing from pressure diffusion models, we demonstrate how seismic stress accumulation in bedrock alters radon profiles in the sub-soil, providing insights into the mechanisms underlying stress-induced radon variations. Building upon this theoretical framework, we introduce the “Bhabha Radon Observatory for Seismic Application (BhaROSA)," a remote sensing, solar-powered radon observatory designed for widespread deployment and continuous unattended monitoring for big database generation. Field experiments comparing BhaROSA's performance to conventional soil probe techniques validate and confirm the superior sensitivity in line with theoretical predictions. This innovative approach holds promise for improving our understanding of stress dynamics in bedrock and has potential applications in various geophysical and atmospheric science such as earthquake precursory research, geo-genic radon potential and risk assessment. To progress, we propose international alliance and application of deep learning to a big database of precursor signals, which may lead to more informed conclusions on earthquake predictability-an enduring and unsolved challenge for humanity.

Experience from radon in soil gas comparison measurements held in Czech Republic and in other countries, 1992–2022

Radon 222Rn, an inert natural radioactive gas, a daughter product in the 238U natural decay series, a source of alpha radiation, together with its short-lived decay products is a dominant source of absorbed radiation doses in the population. Rocks and building materials are fundamental sources of radon in dwellings. Elevated indoor radon activity concentration in houses and workplaces, surpassing recommended reference levels, is not desirable. Since radon penetrates into the houses from the geological basement, various technical aids for protection of houses have been developed. Their individual application derives from the radon potential of a building site. Radon risk mapping of building sites became a standard procedure for gauging the local radon potential. Various instruments and techniques of measurements of radon activity concentration in soil gas (Bq/m3) at building sites are available. Since radon in soil gas and radon measurement techniques are affected by several natural and technical conditions, resultant values of radon risk mapping by individual organizations vary, sometimes fundamentally. Radon comparison measurements at selected reference sites are an important tool for single organizations to verify their radon measuring procedures and reliability of their reported results. Based on legislative regulations, comparison measurements at established radon reference sites are a part of the obligatory activities for radon risk mapping at building sites in the Czech Republic. Experience and analyses of 30-year radon in soil gas comparison measurements in the Czech Republic show the dispersion of values reported by participating organizations and indicate that more than 10% of participants do not fulfill the established local criteria. This paper introduces requirements for the establishment of radon reference sites, documents their natural variability, recommends the procedure of radon comparison measurement, and analyses its results. A long-term experience was gained by testing organizations from the Czech Republic (1992–2022) as well as from the international comparison measurements organized in the Czech Republic and in several other countries (2010–2021).

Analysis of Indoor Radon Concentration Levels and Influencing Factors in Kunshan

Radon is a natural radioactive gas widely existing, in order to study the indoor radon level and influencing factors in Kunshan City, the indoor radon concentration of three buildings was analyzed. It was found that all of them met the indoor radon concentration limit specified in the national standard, and the indoor radon concentration was mainly related to soil radon concentration, indoor ventilation and climate. Indoor radon can be controlled from the following points: (1) While building a new building, test the radon concentration in the soil and try to avoid areas with high concentrations. (2) Pay attention to daily window ventilation, especially in cold weather and poor air circulation in winter. (3) Find and prevent indoor radon sources, building materials will also release a certain amount of radon, and interior decoration materials must be selected to meet national standards.

Co-Designing Communication: A Design Thinking Approach Applied to Radon Health Communication.

Indoor radon is a natural radioactive gas and is one of the leading causes of lung cancer. Despite multiple policy and communication interventions to increase radon testing and mitigation, the uptake of these measures remains insufficient. A participatory research design was applied in Belgium and Slovenia to probe the barriers and facilitators homeowners experience regarding radon protective behavior on the one hand and co-designing communication tools on the other hand. The results show that there remains a need for interventions on all levels (i.e., policy, economic interventions, and communication). Moreover, results indicated a need for a communication strategy that follows the different steps between awareness and performing mitigation measures. Further, involving the target group in the early stages of intervention design was beneficial. Future research is needed to test the effectiveness of the proposed communication strategies in a controlled setting.

Clearing the air: A systematic review of mass media campaigns to increase indoor radon testing and remediation

Abstract Indoor radon is a natural radioactive gas that enters homes through cracks in the foundations. It is one of the leading causes of lung cancer. Although radon can be detected with an indoor radon test and can be mitigated by means of either ventilation or professional measures, testing and mitigating rates of the at-risk population remain insufficient. The objective of this study is to systematically review the current level of evidence regarding the design and effectiveness of mass media campaigns to address the health risks of indoor radon to homeowners. The results show that informative tone of voices prevailed, other components, such as emotional or social components, were often not included. Furthermore, the focus was mostly on intention and less on behavior itself, and on testing instead of mitigation. Further research is needed to test effective and innovative communication strategies to increase protective behavior concerning indoor radon.

Internal bonding microstructures characterisation between plant nanocellulose and concrete mortar mixtures for indoor Radon-222 gas emanation reduction

• CNF crystallinity index fosters by high frequency ultrasonication. • Great CNF dissemination enhances mechanical strength of the composite brick. • CNF significantly impact internal porosity nanonization of the composite brick. • Tiniest internal porosity observed on 40 mL kenaf CNF composite brick. • Lowest 222 Rn concentration emanated from 40 mL oil palm CNF composite brick. Radon-222 ( 222 Rn) is a natural radioactive gas produced by the radium-226 ( 226 Ra) decay process, which is part of the uranium-238 ( 238 U) decay series. 222 Rn gas can penetrate into the respiratory system during the inhalation process and have an indirect effect on lung tissues due to energetic alpha particles. Brick is a common building material that consists of rock, water, and sand. It is the most prevalent source of 222 Rn gas emanation to humans in an indoor building environment. To reduce indoor 222 Rn gas emanation, kenaf and oil palm cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) were mixed into bricks in certain ratios and acted as liquid fillers. CNFs were produced by using chemical pulping, bleaching, and ultrasonic techniques. Ten composite bricks with different ratios of CNF and one control brick were fabricated by following Malaysia Standard (MS 7.6:1972). The characterization of CNF was done using Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) was used to analyse the internal porosity and surface area of the fabricated bricks. 222 Rn concentrations in the bricks and humidity inside the prototype Perspex box were recorded using the Radon Sentinel Monitor Model 1030. The surface areas for control brick, 40 mL kenaf, and oil palm CNF composite bricks are 3.4473 m 2 /g, 4.449 m 2 /g, and 4.9025 m 2 /g, respectively. Meanwhile, pore sizes for control brick, 40 mL kenaf and oil palm CNF composite bricks are 2.92 nm, 0.347 nm and 2.27 nm, respectively. The highest 222 Rn concentration was measured in control brick, which is 3.77 pCi/L, followed by 40 mL kenaf CNF brick and 40 mL oil palm CNF brick, with readings of 1.4 pCi/L and 0.93 pCi/L. The incorporation of CNFs has the ability to reduce 222 Rn emissions while increasing the physical strength of the bricks.

Estimation of Radon Thoron Levels in Jind Area of Haryana

Health risk estimations due to the indoor exposure to natural radionuclides present in natural radioactive gases like radon and thoron the is a cause of concern. The main radiation exposure of the inhabitants of dwellings is due to the two radioactive gases viz. radon and thoron. These gases can accumulate inside the rooms/indoor places of dwellings depending on various parameters like emanation from soil, ventilation, type of dwelling and construction materials, etc. However, the knowledge of concentration of these gases is required to safeguard the dwellers from its health hazardous, if these increases beyond a certain level. In this paper, a study has been conducted in some of the dwellings of the Jind area of Haryana state for the estimation of indoor radon thoron levels. Some 25 dwellings were selected in a uniform manner to cover the whole area of Jind. The found results were assessed on the basis of International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) guidelines.

Unlocking the limits of diffusion and adsorption of metal-crosslinked reduced graphene oxide membranes for gas separation

Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) membranes have shown promising separation and purification in the fields of water treatment and gas capture due to their unique physicochemical characteristics. However, how to further reduce the transport resistance of rGO membranes and improve separation performance is still a thorny issue. In this work, the reported metal-crosslinked rGO membranes showed a reverse-selective separation behaviors for the adsorbed gas molecules at low pressure. The effect of metal ions on the membrane structure and the separation performance were investigated. Metal ions not only can improve the cross-linking structure and control interlamellar spacing of rGO membranes for the precise molecular sieve, but also can provide abundant metal sites to enhance the affinity, which led to a diffusion-controlled process for the targeted gas molecules. The resulting metal-crosslinked rGO membranes presented outstanding gas permeance and selectivity for gas pairs of the He/CO2, N2/CO2 and Kr/Xe, with the highest selectivity of 21, 11.4 and 4.1, respectively. The work will provide a new avenue towards specific molecule capture for the development of rGO membranes in the fields of natural gas purification and radioactive gas recovery.

Indoor Air Radon Concentration in Premises of Public Companies and Workplaces in Latvia.

Considering the multitudes of people who spend their time working indoors in public premises and workplaces, it is worth knowing what their level of exposure is to natural radioactive radon gas, the second most widespread and dangerous carcinogen for lung cancer development after cigarette smoking. This state-level study covered most of the territory of Latvia and conducted 941 radon measurements with Radtrack2, placed for 4–6 months in the premises of public companies, educational institutions, medical care institutions, etc. The study found that 94.7% of samples did not exceed the national permissible limit (200 Bq/m3), the level at which preventive measures should be initiated. The median value of average specific radioactivity of radon in these premises was 48 Bq/m3 (Q1 and Q3 being 27 and 85 Bq/m3), which is below the average of the European region. Slightly higher concentrations were observed in well-insulated premises with plastic windows and poorer air exchange, mostly in schools (59 (36, 109) Bq/m3) and kindergartens (48 (32, 79) Bq/m3). Industrial workplaces had surprisingly low radon levels (28 (16, 55) Bq/m3) due to strict requirements for air quality and proper ventilation. Public premises and workplaces in Latvia mostly have low radon concentrations in the air, but more attention should be paid to adequate ventilation and air exchange.

Increased Radon Exposure From Thawing of Permafrost Due To Climate Change

AbstractRadon is a natural radioactive gas accounting for approximately one in 10 lung cancer deaths, with substantially higher death rates in sub‐Arctic communities. Radon transport is significantly reduced in permafrost, but permafrost is now thawing due to climate change. The effect of permafrost thawing on domestic radon exposure is unknown. Here we present results from radon transport modeling through soil, permafrost, and model buildings either with basements or built on piles. We find that permafrost acts as an effective radon barrier, reducing radiation exposure to a tenth of the background level while producing a ten‐fold increase in the radon activity behind the barrier. When we model thawing of the permafrost barrier, we find no increase in radon to the background level for buildings on piles. However, for buildings with basements, the radon increases to over one hundred times its initial value and can remain above the 200 Bq/m3 threshold for up to 7 years depending on the depth of the permafrost and the speed of thawing. When thawing speed is taken into account, radiations remain higher than the threshold for all scenarios where 40% thawing occurs within 15 years. This new information suggests that a significant sub‐Arctic population could be exposed to radon levels dangerous to health as a result of climate change thawing of permafrost, with implications for health provision, building codes, and ventilation advice.

Radon Hazard in Central Italy: Comparison among Areas with Different Geogenic Radon Potential.

Radon (222Rn) is a natural radioactive gas formed in rocks and soil by the decay of its parent nuclide (238-Uranium). The rate at which radon migrates to the surface, be it along faults or directly emanated from shallow soil, represents the Geogenic Radon Potential (GRP) of an area. Considering that the GRP is often linked to indoor radon risk levels, we have conducted multi-disciplinary research to: (i) define local GRPs and investigate their relationship with associated indoor Rn levels; (ii) evaluate inhaled radiation dosages and the associated risk to the inhabitants; and (iii) define radon priority areas (RPAs) as required by the Directive 2013/59/Euratom. In the framework of the EU-funded LIFE-Respire project, a large amount of data (radionuclide content, soil gas samples, terrestrial gamma, indoor radon) was collected from three municipalities located in different volcanic districts of the Lazio region (central Italy) that are characterised by low to high GRP. Results highlight the positive correlation between the radionuclide content of the outcropping rocks, the soil Rn concentrations and the presence of high indoor Rn values in areas with medium to high GRP. Data confirm that the Cimini–Vicani area has inhalation dosages that are higher than the reference value of 10 mSv/y.

Exposure Due to Indoor Radon in Bulgarian Schools

Indoor radon exposure is the largest contributor to population dose from natural sources. Radon as a natural radioactive gas could accumulate to harmful levels in buildings, such as homes and buildings with public access. In order to assess the exposure due to radon in school the results of indoor radon measurements in 55 state school buildings in 7 municipalities located in one district in southern Bulgaria are considered in this paper. The survey was carried out with passive CR-39 etched track detectors. Radon concentrations ranged from 17 to 868 Bq m-3, with a geometric mean of 117 Bq m-3 and a geometric standard deviation of 1.78. The findings revealed that in 30% of the measured buildings the radon concentration was higher than the national reference level of 300 Bq m-3. The statistically significant difference in indoor radon concentrations between municipalities (KW, р < 0.001) was obtained. The research was also focused on parameters affecting radon concentration levels such as type of room and floor location. The estimated annual effective dose of 0.39 to 1.07 mSv y-1, applying the ICRP and UNSCEAR methodology, was calculated for students. The results of the measurements were provided to the administrative authorities and measures were proposed to improve the air in school buildings with high radon levels.

Influence of some specific meteorological events on indoor radon dynamic in western Switzerland

Radon is a natural radioactive gas that may cumulate in indoor environments. The impacts of weather events on indoor radon concentration had been explored in different places around the world but only marginally in Switzerland. Using basic statistical analysis, this study investigates different meteorological parameters’ influence on indoor radon concentrations and shows that outdoor air temperature is the most influential beyond others. Finally, this paper highlights the importance of radon dynamic in buildings, a topic often overlooked by construction professionals and the broader public in Switzerland.

Measurement of Indoor Radon, Thoron and Their Attached and Unattached Progeny Concentrations in Dwellings of Gurugram, India

Estimation of indoor radon levels in the indoor air of a dwelling is an important aspect for the good health of human population spending a substantial portion of their lifetime indoor. Indoor radon combining with thoron and their progenies can accumulate in the houses to a value not suitable for the health of the people living there. The present paper is an attempt in this direction, to find the levels of the above-mentioned radioactive gases with their progenies in the dwellings of the Gurugram district of Haryana. The study was conducted in the summer season in 50 dwellings of the Gurugram district. International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) guidelines were followed to evaluate the results obtained in the study and the district was found to be in the less hazardous zone due to presence of natural radioactive gases in indoor environment of dwellings.

Predictors of indoor radon levels in the Midwest United States

ABSTRACT Radon (Rn) is a natural and toxic radioactive gas that accumulates indoors, mainly in low-ventilated underground floors and basements. Several factors make prediction of indoor Rn exposure in enclosed spaces challenging. In this study, we investigated the influence of soil, geology, topography, atmospheric variables, radiation, urbanization, community economic well-being, and monthly and yearly variations on indoor Rn concentrations. We analyzed 7,515 monthly indoor Rn measurements in 623 zip codes from two U.S. States (Michigan and Minnesota) during 2005–2018 using a random forest model. Using Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) values we investigated the contribution of each factor using variable importance and partial dependence plots. Factors that predict indoor Rn differed between states, with topographical, geological and soil composition being most influential. Cross-validated Pearson correlation between predictions and measurements was 0.68 (RMSE = 47.8 Bq/m3) in Minnesota, and 0.67 (RMSE = 52.5 Bq/m3) in Michigan. Our results underline the importance of soil structure for radon exposure, presumably due to strapped Rn in soil. The differences across states also suggest that Rn studies performing model development should consider geographical variables, along with other factors. As indoor Rn levels are multifactorial, an understanding of the factors that influence its emanation and build up indoors will help better assess spatial and temporal variations, which will be useful to improve prevention and mitigation control strategies. Implications: Radon exposure has become a year-round problem as people spend most of their time indoors. In North America, radon exposure is increasing over time and awareness related to its health effects remains low in the general population. Several factors make prediction of indoor radon exposure in enclosed spaces challenging. In this study, we used random forest to investigate the influence of factors on indoor radon in the Midwest United States. We found that topography, geology, and soil composition were the most influential factors on indoor radon levels. These results will help better assess spatial and temporal variations, which will further help better prevention and mitigation control strategies.

Evaluation of Radon (222Rn) Distribution and its Implications vis-a-vis Water Quality of Killiyar River, Kerala, India

The discharge of tropical rivers is mainly contributed by the baseflow from groundwater especially during summer. Hence, in order to sustain the environmental flow of rivers, the conservation of locations where groundwater discharges into river is a better option than conventional practices viz., redesigning river channel structure and flow regime. Radon (222Rn), a colourless, odourless, inert and natural radioactive noble gas (t1/2= 3.8 days), can be used as a proxy to trace the groundwater discharge location/s in the river course. As 222Rn readily dissolves in groundwater, its content in groundwater is relatively higher than surface water. We report here the activity of 222Rn in the river water at ten locations from upstream to downstream of Killiyar river – KR (n= 6th, L= 24 km, A= 102 km2), the main tributary of Karamana river, Kerala, India. Surface water samples (n=10) were collected during pre- and post-monsoon of 2017. The radon activity was performed by RAD7, an electronic radon detector (Durridge Company Inc., USA). The activity of radon varied from 157 to 4588 Bq/m3 in pre-monsoon and 147 to 1740 Bq/m3 in post-monsoon. The spatial variability of 222Rn activity is observed, and the anomalous high activity location/s indicates groundwater potential in that area. Further, the factors controlling spatial variation of radon were also discussed. Moreover, physico-chemical parameters of river water were also studied. And all the parameters were found to be within the permissible limit of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specifications for potable water (IS -10500: 2012). This is a case study of application of radon for prospecting groundwater potential zones in Killiyar river course, henceforth useful for the water resource management in this riverine environment and is first of its kind in the study region.

Measurement of 222Rn Exhalation Rate from Natural Rubber Latex Pillows Randomed from Online Market in Thailand

Radon is a natural radioactive gas, and it is increasingly interesting worldwide because it affects the human healthy and increases lung cancer risk when people receive high concentrations over extended periods of time by inhalation. The study was to measure the radon concentration, determine the radon exhalation rate, and estimate annual effective dose level in order to set up a policy on controlling the contamination of radon in the natural rubber latex products in Thailand, and the radon concentrations were measured from natural rubber latex pillows randomized from online market in Thailand by closed chamber system technique with ATMOS 12 DPX. The results showed that the equilibrium radon concentrations were ranged between 11 ± 2 and 43 ± 5 Bqm–3 with an average value of 17 ± 9 Bqm–3. All measured radon concentrations were well below the allowed maximum contamination level of radon concentration in collected samples of 148 and 300 Bqm–3, recommended by the USEPA and the ICRP, respectively. The exhalation rates from natural rubber latex pillows were ranged 12 ± 3 and 60 ± 7 mBq m–2 h–1 with an average value of 25.7 ± 14.4 mBq m–2 h–1. The annual effective doses calculated for inhalation were between 0.12 ± 0.03 and 0.43 ± 0.05 mSv y–1, and also well lower than the annual effective dose for general public (1.0 mSv y–1) recommended by the ICRP.

Radon concentration of different brands of bottled natural mineral water commercially sold in Turkey and radiological risk assessment

ABSTRACT The consumption of bottled natural mineral water has become more popular in Turkey due to the faith about the helpful medicinal and therapeutic impacts of mineral waters including various dissolved minerals. However, mineral water derived from groundwater contains natural radioactive radon gas which is one of the important sources of natural radiation. In this study, the activity levels of radon in forty-nine bottled natural plain and fruit-flavoured mineral water samples of twenty-two commercially brands sold in Turkish markets were determined using an active radon gas monitoring system. The pH, conductivity, salinity, and total dissolved solids of mineral water samples were also measured using standard laboratory methods. The total annual effective dose due to ingestion and inhalation of radon in mineral water samples was estimated for infants, children, and adults to assess the health risk caused by internal exposure. The activity concentrations of radon measured in mineral water samples varied from 30.6 to 57.6 mBq L−1 with an average of 43.1 ± 6.1 mBq L−1. The average total annual effective dose was found as 0.42, 0.26 and 0.36 µSv for infants, children and adults, respectively. All measured radon concentrations and estimated annual effective dose values are within the within recommended limits by the WHO and European Union for drinking water. It can be concluded that the effective radiation dose from the radon in bottled natural mineral water samples investigated is very low and creates a negligible health risk for the public.