A study of indoor radon levels in Indian dwellings, influencing factors and lung cancer risks
TL;DR: In this paper, passive integrating solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs) were used to study the Radon-222 (Rn) concentrations in Indian dwellings, and the average Rn concentrations in living rooms were found to be 34±8 Bq.
About: This article is published in Radiation Measurements.The article was published on 2000-04-01. It has received 58 citations till now.
Citations
More filters
TL;DR: High-resolution gamma spectrometry was used to determine the concentration of 40K, 238U and 232Th series in soil samples taken from areas surrounding the city of Aldama, in Chihuahua, revealing relatively high indoor radon levels and high concentrations in drinking water.
96 citations
TL;DR: It was shown that the spatial distribution of samples strongly affected the relevance of those associations of IRC, and future methods to estimate local radon hazards should take the multidimensionality of the process of IRC into account.
69 citations
Cites result from "A study of indoor radon levels in I..."
...Our findings are in general accordance with previous studies (Andersen et al., 2007; Appleton and Miles, 2010; Gunby et al., 1993; Hauri et al., 2012; Hunter et al., 2009; Khan, 2000; Papaefthymiou et al., 2003; Zunic et al., 2007)....
[...]
TL;DR: It was found that the differences in mean radon concentrations between adjacent seasons, in a number of 61 selected sampling sites distributed in 28 houses, were statistically significant and followed a linear decrease from underground to 2nd floor.
66 citations
TL;DR: Exceptionally high concentrations of radon have been found in drinking water originating from hand pumps in Khetri Copper Belt of Rajasthan and the high radon concentration obtained in groundwater is due to local natural geology.
52 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the distribution of radon in ground and surface water samples in Sankey Tank and Mallathahalli Lake areas was determined using Durridge RAD-7 analyzer with RAD H2O accessory.
Abstract: The distribution of radon in ground and surface water samples in Sankey Tank and Mallathahalli Lake areas was determined using Durridge RAD-7 analyzer with RAD H2O accessory. The radiation dose received by an individual falling under different age groups (viz., 3 months; 1, 5, 10, 15 years and adult) depending upon their average annual water consumption rate was attempted. The mean radon activity in surface water of Sankey Tank and Mallathahalli Lake was 7.24 ± 1.48 and 11.43 ± 1.11 Bq/L, respectively. The average radon activities ranged from 11.6 ± 1.7 to 381.2 ± 2.0 Bq/L and 1.50 ± 0.83 to 18.9 ± 1.59 Bq/L, respectively, in 12 groundwater samples each around Sankey Tank and Mallathahalli Lake areas. Majority of the measured groundwater samples (viz., 100 % in Sankey Tank area and 75 % in Mallathahalli Lake area) showed mean radon values above the EPA’s maximum contaminant level of 11.1 Bq/L and only 66.67 % of samples in Sankey Tank area showed radon above the WHO and EU’s reference level of 100 Bq/L. The overall radiation dose due to radon emanating from water in the study area was increasing with increase in age and water consumption rates, but significantly lower than UNSCEAR and WHO recommended limit of 1 mSv/year except for few groundwater samples in Sankey Tank area (i.e., 0.92, 0.99 and 1.39 mSv/year). The radiation dose rate received by bronchial epithelium via inhalation was very high compared to that by stomach walls via ingestion.
49 citations
Cites background from "A study of indoor radon levels in I..."
...The risk due to exposure of the ingested radon with intake of the water is smaller than the risk of developing lung cancer (Folger et al. 1994; Khan 2000) from inhaled radon released to air from exhalation from the same water....
[...]
...Radon, when present at high concentration, is also known to cause lung cancer (Folger et al. 1994; Khan 2000), originally called the Schneeberger Lungen—krankheit or Schneeberg lung disease (Enderle and Friedrich 1995; Boice et al....
[...]
...Radon, when present at high concentration, is also known to cause lung cancer (Folger et al. 1994; Khan 2000), originally called the Schneeberger Lungen—krankheit or Schneeberg lung disease (Enderle and Friedrich 1995; Boice et al. 2003)....
[...]
References
More filters
01 Jan 2000
TL;DR: This annex is aimed at providing a sound basis for conclusions regarding the number of significant radiation accidents that have occurred, the corresponding levels of radiation exposures and numbers of deaths and injuries, and the general trends for various practices, in the context of the Committee's overall evaluations of the levels and effects of exposure to ionizing radiation.
Abstract: NOTE The report of the Committee without its annexes appears as Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-third Session, Supplement No. 46. The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The country names used in this document are, in most cases, those that were in use at the time the data were collected or the text prepared. In other cases, however, the names have been updated, where this was possible and appropriate, to reflect political changes. Scientific Annexes Annex A. Medical radiation exposures Annex B. Exposures of the public and workers from various sources of radiation INTROdUCTION 1. In the course of the research and development for and the application of atomic energy and nuclear technologies, a number of radiation accidents have occurred. Some of these accidents have resulted in significant health effects and occasionally in fatal outcomes. The application of technologies that make use of radiation is increasingly widespread around the world. Millions of people have occupations related to the use of radiation, and hundreds of millions of individuals benefit from these uses. Facilities using intense radiation sources for energy production and for purposes such as radiotherapy, sterilization of products, preservation of foodstuffs and gamma radiography require special care in the design and operation of equipment to avoid radiation injury to workers or to the public. Experience has shown that such technology is generally used safely, but on occasion controls have been circumvented and serious radiation accidents have ensued. 2. Reviews of radiation exposures from accidents have been presented in previous UNSCEAR reports. The last report containing an exclusive chapter on exposures from accidents was the UNSCEAR 1993 Report [U6]. 3. This annex is aimed at providing a sound basis for conclusions regarding the number of significant radiation accidents that have occurred, the corresponding levels of radiation exposures and numbers of deaths and injuries, and the general trends for various practices. Its conclusions are to be seen in the context of the Committee's overall evaluations of the levels and effects of exposure to ionizing radiation. 4. The Committee's evaluations of public, occupational and medical diagnostic exposures are mostly concerned with chronic exposures of …
3,924 citations
Book•
01 Jan 1988
TL;DR: A substantive review of the current understanding of radon and its decay products in indoor air can be found in this article, where more than 1,000 citations to the literature are included.
Abstract: This book is a substantive review of the current understanding of radon and its decay products in indoor air. More than 1,000 citations to the literature are included. The book is structured to examine the current state of knowledge of all aspects of the indoor radon problem. The first chapter is an overview of radon and its decay products in indoor air. The other 11 chapters are divided into four major parts. The first is concerned with sources and transport process, i.e., the generation and migration of radon in source materials, and its entry into building. The second part deals with the physical and chemical behavior of radon and radon decay products in indoor air. The third part presents evidence pertaining to the health effects and risk of exposure to radon decay products. The final part deals with both strategic and technical aspects of controlling exposures. Other topics covered include soil as a source of indoor radon (including generation, migration, and entry), techniques for modeling indoor concentration of radon, lung dosimetry, and a comprehensive strategy for control of indoor radon.
555 citations
152 citations
Journal Article•
113 citations
01 Jan 1990-International Journal of Radiation Applications and Instrumentation. Part D. Nuclear Tracks and Radiation Measurements
TL;DR: In this paper, a CR-39 plastic detector was calibrated bare and in a cup-with-membrane mode, along with a monodispersal aerosol 02 μm in size in an exposure chamber, to find the relationship between track density and the radon concentration, as well as potential alpha energy concentration (WL) of radon.
50 citations