Radon Concentration In Schools Research Articles

Determination of the indoor radon concentration in schools of Tenerife (Canary Islands): a comparative study

A radon survey was carried out in 18 high schools located in Tenerife Island when anti-pandemic strategies were used to reduce COVID-19 dissemination during 2021. High schools were located in radon-prone areas previously identified by the Spanish Nuclear Safety Council. Our results showed that 12 high schools presented radon activities lower than 100 Bq/m3, 5 high schools presented values in the range 100–200 Bq/m3, and only 1 high school presented radon activity concentration higher than 200 Bq/m3. Such values are below the reference level (300 Bq/m3) recommended by the Spanish legislation in the Basics Document of Health Standards (section HS6) of the Technical Building Code and the European Union directive (2013/59/EURATOM). Assuming an indoor occupancy time of about 1620 h per year, the annual dose contribution due to indoor radon exposure ranged from 0.07 to 1.18 mSv/year. Comparing such result against previous values reported in the literature on the island of Tenerife, we conclude that during the pandemic situation the indoor radon concentration (median valued) was reduced from 130.9 (2007) to 73.5 (2021) Bq/m3. Finally, continuous indoor radon concentration measurements were obtained to study short-time fluctuations (intra-day changes) under different ventilation conditions.

Health hazards due to the exposure to radon in schools of the Cappadocia region

This study presents the results of a survey of radon concentrations in schools (kindergartens, primary schools, secondary schools, high schools, colleges, and one faculty) located in the province of Nevsehir which is the center of the Cappadocia region. Radon measurements covered two consecutive 6-month periods in the ground floor classrooms inside the school buildings and they were performed using a continuous active radon detector (AlphaGUARD PQ2000 PRO). Data distribution is well fitted by a log-normal curve. The arithmetic average value of the radon concentrations measured in summer and winter was found as 75 ? 12 Bqm-3 and 67 ? 10 Bqm-3, respectively. From the measured results, the effective doses from radon exposures in summer and winter were estimated as 0.27 and 0.40 mSv and 0.24 and 0.36 mSv for students and teachers, respectively. The results showed that radon concentration measured in schools does not pose significant health hazards for students and teachers.

Radon Concentrations in Schools and Kindergartens in Kragujevac City, Central Serbia

Measurements of radon activity concentrations have been conducted in public kindergartens, primary, and secondary schools in Kragujevac City. This study represents the first step towards radon mapping of Central Serbia. Passive discriminative radon/thoron detectors (so called UFO) were used for monitoring. The radon calibration coefficient of 0.026 (track/cm2)/(Bq m−3 day) was calculated by exposing the UFO detectors in a Rn chamber monitored by a RAD7 device. The Rn concentration was in the range of 27–145 Bq m−3 in kindergartens and 25–86 Bq m−3 in schools. The value of the arithmetic mean was 59.6 Bq m−3 and the standard deviation was 25.6 Bq m−3. The distribution of the results was well fitted by log‐normal function. No significant correlation between measured activity concentrations and periods of building constructions was found.

The Ukrainian pilot project “Stop radon”

In 2010 one area of Ukraine (Kirovograd area) was selected for a pilot project to reduce radon risks. The project consists of several stages: radon risk training for the public health professionals, measurements of radon concentration in schools and nurseries (more than 1000 buildings were examined), justifications of radon countermeasures and their implementation. The lognormal frequency distribution for equivalent equilibrium concentration was authentically established. The geometric mean of the indoor radon equivalent equilibrium concentration was established to 63 Bq/m3, and standard deviation is equal to 82 Bq/m3. The indoor radon equivalent equilibrium concentration ranged from 22 Bq/m3 to 809 Bq/m3. It was found that the national regulatory limit for this type of buildings was exceeded in more than 50% of the cases. The second phase of the project has a goal to remediate radon levels and reduce radon risks. Calculated exposure doses and radon risk were used to justify the remediation and assess the economic loss for the region caused by radon irradiation of the population.

Radon in indoor air of primary schools: a systematic survey to evaluate factors affecting radon concentration levels and their variability

In order to optimize the design of a national survey aimed to evaluate radon exposure of children in schools in Serbia, a pilot study was carried out in all the 334 primary schools of 13 municipalities of Southern Serbia. Based on data from passive measurements, rooms with annual radon concentration >300 Bq/m(3) were found in 5% of schools. The mean annual radon concentration weighted with the number of pupils is 73 Bq/m(3), 39% lower than the unweighted 119 Bq/m(3) average concentration. The actual average concentration when children are in classrooms could be substantially lower. Variability between schools (CV = 65%), between floors (CV = 24%) and between rooms at the same floor (CV = 21%) was analyzed. The impact of school location, floor, and room usage on radon concentration was also assessed (with similar results) by univariate and multivariate analyses. On average, radon concentration in schools within towns is a factor of 0.60 lower than in villages and at higher floors is a factor of 0.68 lower than ground floor. Results can be useful for other countries with similar soil and building characteristics. On average, radon concentrations are substantially higher in schools in villages than in schools located in towns (double,on average). Annual radon concentrations exceeding 300 Bq/m3 were found in 5% of primary schools (generally on ground floors of schools in villages). The considerable variability of radon concentration observed between and within floors indicates a need to monitor concentrations in several rooms for each floor. A single radon detector for each room can be used provided that the measurement error is considerable lower than variability of radon concentration between rooms.

Indoor radon levels in Greek schools

Radon and gamma dose rate measurements were performed in 512 schools in 8 of the 13 regions of Greece. The distribution of radon concentration was well described by a lognormal distribution. Most (86%) of the radon concentrations were between 60 and 250 Bq m −3 with a most probable value of 135 Bq m −3. The arithmetic and geometric means of the radon concentration are 149 Bq m −3 and 126 Bq m −3 respectively. The maximum measured radon gas concentration was 958 Bq m −3. As expected, no correlation between radon gas concentration and indoor gamma dose rate was observed. However, if only mean values for each region are considered, a linear correlation between radon gas concentration and gamma dose rate is apparent. Despite the fact that the results of radon concentration in schools cannot be applied directly for the estimation of radon concentration in homes, the results of the present survey indicate that it is desirable to perform an extended survey of indoor radon in homes for at least one region in Northern Greece.

A comparison study between radon concentration in schools and other workplaces

The Nuclear Technology Laboratory of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki has since 1999 an open research project of indoor radon measurements in Greek workplaces. Since now 1380 measurements in 690 workplaces have been performed. Most (75 %) of the workplaces were offices in schools. The remaining 25 % were offices, mainly in public buildings. In the present study, a possible correlation between radon concentration in schools and other workplaces is investigated and discussed.

Monitoring for exposures to TENORM sources in Vojvodina region

TENORM are found in a wide variety of waste materials, some raw mineral ores and in some consumer products (in trace amounts) where molecules of radionuclides may be bound to specific minerals used in the manufacturing process and can result in increases in radiation exposures to workers and the public. The aim of this paper is to understand this problem and to develop effective ways to protect humans and the environment from harmful exposure to the radiation in TENORM materials in the Vojvodina region. The results of measurement of indoor radon concentration in schools and kindergartens and dose-rate and gamma-spectrometry measurements of the workplace with TENORM materials are presented.

Radon concentrations in schools of the Neapolitan area

A radon survey was carried out in 30 schools located in the metropolitan area around Naples, Italy. Radon concentration was measured using the SSNTD (Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors) method with LR115 detectors. Time integrated measurements covered two consecutive 6-month periods at different locations inside the school buildings: classrooms, laboratories and offices. Data distribution is well fitted by a log-normal curve. The arithmetic mean annual radon concentration is 144 Bq m −3, the geometric mean is 86 Bq m −3; the standard deviations are respectively 7 Bq m −3 and 3. The fractions of rooms where radon concentrations exceed the reference levels of 200, 400 and 500 Bq m −3 are 21.3%, 7.6% and 4.5% respectively. The results show that radon concentration in scientific laboratories and in offices is higher than in classrooms.

Seasonal variation of indoor air radon concentration in schools in Kosovo

Indoor air radon ( Rn 222 ) concentrations were measured in March, May, August and December in 15 rooms of five elementary and in six rooms of one high school in Sharr, Kosovo, using alpha scintillation cells. Only in one room did the value exceed 200 Bq m - 3 . Values decreased from December to August, and from basement to first floor.

Indoor air radon concentration in schools in Prizren, Kosovo

Indoor air radon ((222)Rn) concentrations were measured in spring and winter in 30 rooms of 9 elementary schools and 19 rooms of 6 high schools in Prizren, Kosovo, using alpha scintillation cells. Only in three rooms of elementary schools and four rooms of high schools did winter concentrations exceed 400 Bq m(-3).

Radon in Irish schools: the results of a national survey

This paper presents the results of a survey of radon concentrations in Irish primary andpost-primary schools. The objective of this survey was to assess the distribution of radon inIrish schools and to identify those requiring remedial work to reduce radon exposure tochildren and staff. All primary and post-primary schools were invited to participate in thesurvey. Indoor radon concentrations were measured during the academic year usingintegrating passive alpha track-etch detectors with a measurement period fromthree to nine months. The survey was carried out on a phased basis from 1998 to2004 and is one of the most comprehensive of its kind undertaken in Europe.Measurements were completed in 38 531 ground floor classrooms and offices in 3826schools, representing over 95% of the approximate 4000 primary and post-primaryschools in Ireland. Of these, 984 schools had radon concentrations greater than200 Bq m−3 in 3028 rooms and 329 schools had radon concentrations in excess of400 Bq m−3 in 800 rooms.The average radon concentration in schools was93 Bq m−3. This results in an annual average effective dose to an Irish child from exposure to radon of0.3 mSv per year, assuming that the long-term radon concentration is equal to the radonconcentration present during the working hours and that the annual average occupancy is1000 h per year.A programme of remediation of schools with radon concentrations above200 Bq m−3 has been put in place.

Do long-term average radon concentrations in schools and kindergartens differ from the average during working hours?

Radon concentrations in air in schools and kindergartens were measured by alpha scintillation cells, electret and etched track detectors, and a continuous device. Values obtained by different devices under different conditions are compared and their correlation discussed. The radon concentration averaged over working hours may differ substantially from the whole-day average, although Pearson's correlation coefficients between the two averages of 0.83 and 0.82 were obtained for schools and kindergartens, respectively.

Dose Assessment due to Radon Concentrations in Schools and Dwellings of Algiers

Indoor radon measurements were performed in public schools at different locations, as well as in dwellings of Algiers. Indoor radon was measured by means of solid state nuclear track detectors (LR-115) in twelve town locations and in twenty four schools, with two schools in each location. The average radon concentrations in schools, in dwellings and outdoors was 25.6, 29.8 and 11 Bq.m -3 , respectively. The estimated average effective dose equivalent for the school pupils was 1.28 mSv.y -1 (with occupancy factors of 0.6, 0.2 and 0.2 for home, school and outdoors, respectively). This paper describes the methodology adopted and discusses the results obtained.

Radioactive balloons: experiments on radon concentration in schools or homes

Balloons that have been rubbed to create a charge will attract radioactive dust particles in an ordinary laboratory in sufficient numbers to allow students to measure the radioactivity and also the effective half-life.