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Taylor BK, Pulliam H, Smith OV, Rice DL, Johnson HJ, Coutant AT, Glesinger R, Wilson TW. Effects of chronic home radon exposure on cognitive, behavioral, and mental health in developing children and adolescents. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1330469. [PMID: 38469220 PMCID: PMC10925658 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1330469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction It is well-established that chronic exposure to environmental toxins can have adverse effects on neuropsychological health, particularly in developing youths. However, home radon, a ubiquitous radiotoxin, has been seldom studied in this context. In the present study, we investigated the degree to which chronic everyday home radon exposure was associated with alterations in transdiagnostic mental health outcomes. Methods A total of 59 children and adolescents ages 6- to 14-years-old (M = 10.47 years, SD = 2.58; 28 males) completed the study. Parents completed questionnaires detailing aspects of attention and executive function. We used a principal components analysis to derive three domains of neuropsychological functioning: 1) task-based executive function skills, 2) self-and emotion-regulation abilities, and 3) inhibitory control. Additionally, parents completed a home radon test kit and provided information on how long their child had lived in the tested home. We computed a radon exposure index per person based on the duration of time that the child had lived in the home and their measured home radon concentration. Youths were divided into terciles based on their radon exposure index score. Using a MANCOVA design, we determined whether there were differences in neuropsychological domain scores across the three groups, controlling for age, sex, and socioeconomic status. Results There was a significant multivariate effect of radon group on neuropsychological dysfunction (λ = 0.77, F = 2.32, p = 0.038, ηp2 = 0.12). Examination of univariate effects revealed specific increases in self-and emotion-regulation dysfunction among the youths with the greatest degree of chronic home radon exposure (F = 7.21, p = 0.002, ηp2 = 0.21). There were no significant differences by group in the other tested domains. Discussion The data suggest potential specificity in the neurotoxic effects of everyday home radon exposure in developing youths, with significant aberrations in self-and emotion-regulation faculties. These findings support the need for better public awareness and public health policy surrounding home radon safety and mitigation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany K. Taylor
- Institute for Human Neuroscience Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, United States
- Center for Pediatric Brain Health, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, United States
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Haley Pulliam
- Institute for Human Neuroscience Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, United States
- Center for Pediatric Brain Health, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - OgheneTejiri V. Smith
- Institute for Human Neuroscience Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, United States
- Center for Pediatric Brain Health, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Danielle L. Rice
- Institute for Human Neuroscience Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, United States
- Center for Pediatric Brain Health, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Hallie J. Johnson
- Institute for Human Neuroscience Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, United States
- Center for Pediatric Brain Health, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Anna T. Coutant
- Institute for Human Neuroscience Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, United States
- Center for Pediatric Brain Health, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Ryan Glesinger
- Institute for Human Neuroscience Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, United States
- Center for Pediatric Brain Health, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Tony W. Wilson
- Institute for Human Neuroscience Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, United States
- Center for Pediatric Brain Health, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, United States
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, United States
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Li L, Coull BA, Koutrakis P. A national comparison between the collocated short- and long-term radon measurements in the United States. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2023; 33:455-464. [PMID: 36725923 PMCID: PMC10238600 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-023-00521-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Knowing the geographical and temporal variation in radon concentrations is essential for assessing residential exposure to radon, the leading cause of lung cancer in never-smokers in the United States. Tens of millions of short-term radon measurements, which normally last 2 to 4 days, have been conducted during the past decades. However, these massive short-term measurements have not been commonly used in exposure assessment because of the conflicting evidence regarding their correlation with long-term measurements, the gold standard of assessing long-term radon exposure. OBJECTIVE We aim to evaluate the extent to which a long-term radon measurement can be predicted by a collocated short-term radon measurement under different conditions. METHODS We compiled a national dataset of 2245 pairs of collocated short- and long-term measurements, analyzed the predictability of long-term measurements with stratified linear regression and bootstrapping resampling. RESULTS We found that the extent to which a long-term measurement can be predicted by the collocated short-term measurement was a joint function of two factors: the temporal difference in starting dates between two measurements and the length of the long-term measurement. Short-term measurements, jointly with other factors, could explain up to 79% (0.95 Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.73-0.84) of the variance in seasonal radon concentrations and could explain up to 67% (0.95 CI: 0.52-0.81) of the variance in annual radon concentrations. The large proportions of variance explained suggest that short-term measurement can be used as convenient proxy for seasonal radon concentrations. Accurate annual radon estimation entails averaging multiple short-term measurements in different seasons. SIGNIFICANCE Our findings will facilitate the usage of abundant short-term radon measurements, which have been obtained but was previously underutilized in assessing residential radon exposure. IMPACT STATEMENT Tens of millions of short-term radon measurements have been conducted but underutilized in assessing residential exposure to radon, the greatest cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. We investigate the correlations between collocated short- and long-term measurements in 2245 U.S. buildings and find that short-term measurements can explain ~75% of the variance in subsequent long-term measurements in the same buildings. Our results can facilitate the usage of massive short-term radon measurements that have been conducted to estimate the spatial and longitudinal distribution of radon concentrations, which can be used in epidemiological studies to quantify the health effects of radon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longxiang Li
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
| | - Brent A Coull
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Petros Koutrakis
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
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Papatheodorou S, Yao W, Vieira CLZ, Li L, Wylie BJ, Schwartz J, Koutrakis P. Residential radon exposure and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in Massachusetts, USA: A cohort study. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 146:106285. [PMID: 33395935 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/15/2020] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to ionizing radiation has been associated with hypertension, but the relationship between residential radon exposure and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) has not been examined. METHODS We used the Massachusetts Birth Registry of Vital Records from 2001 to 2015 including women with a singleton pregnancy without prior hypertension. The binary outcome (HDP) included gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia cases and was assessed using birth certificate data. We obtained 141,665 basement radon measurements from Spruce Environmental Technologies, Inc. and modeled the monthly zip code basement radon level. We used a logistic regression model adjusted for sociodemographic covariates, maternal comorbidities, PM2.5, season, temperature, and relative humidity. We examined effect modification by maternal age, race, and maternal education as an indicator of socio-economic status. RESULTS Of 975,528 women, 3.7% (36,530) of them developed HDP. Zip code level radon ranged from 22 to 333 mBq/m3. An interquartile range (IQR) increase in zip code radon level throughout pregnancy was associated with a 15% increase in the odds of HDP (95% CI 13% to 18%). In women less than 20 years old, an IQR increase in zip code level radon was associated with 38% increase in the odds of HDP (95% CI 24% to 50%), while the effect was smaller in older women. There was no effect modification by maternal race or education. CONCLUSIONS In this cohort, higher levels of residential radon are associated with increased odds of HDP. After stratifying by age, this effect was stronger in participants younger than 20 years old. Since the burden of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy is increasing and affects women's future cardiovascular health, identification of modifiable risk factors is of great importance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Weiyu Yao
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Carolina L Z Vieira
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Longxiang Li
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Blair J Wylie
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joel Schwartz
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Petros Koutrakis
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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Residential Radon in Central and South America: A Systematic Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17124550. [PMID: 32599800 PMCID: PMC7345538 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17124550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Radon gas is a pulmonary carcinogen and the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. There are many countries that have not implemented measures to reduce the risk it poses to the general population. The aim of this study was to locate available evidence on exposure to residential radon and the regulations to monitor and control this across Central and South America, by conducting a review of the scientific literature and government documents in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. This review included 31 studies which had taken measurements of radon in these countries. While Brazil, Argentina, and Peru have undertaken most research, no country in Central and South America has a national map of exposure to residential radon. The prevalence of exposure to radon was uneven, both among the different countries and within individual countries. No country has regulations to prevent the entry of radon into homes, and nine countries have not set maximum permissible concentrations for residential radon. There is a limited number of studies in South and Central America, with a limited spatial coverage, and there is a need to improve knowledge on exposure to residential radon and its effects, and for governments to take the necessary actions to introduce preventive measures in their statutory regulations.
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Lorenzo-González M, Torres-Durán M, Barbosa-Lorenzo R, Provencio-Pulla M, Barros-Dios JM, Ruano-Ravina A. Radon exposure: a major cause of lung cancer. Expert Rev Respir Med 2019; 13:839-850. [DOI: 10.1080/17476348.2019.1645599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- María Lorenzo-González
- Service of Preventive Medicine, University Hospital Complex of Ourense, Ourense, Spain
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Juan Miguel Barros-Dios
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- 5CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública CIBERESP, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Service of Preventive Medicine, University Hospital Complex of Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Alberto Ruano-Ravina
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- 5CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública CIBERESP, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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Dai D, Neal FB, Diem J, Deocampo DM, Stauber C, Dignam T. Confluent impact of housing and geology on indoor radon concentrations in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 668:500-511. [PMID: 30852225 PMCID: PMC6456363 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.02.257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Revised: 02/10/2019] [Accepted: 02/16/2019] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Radon is a naturally released radioactive carcinogenic gas. To estimate radon exposure, studies have examined various risk factors, but limited information exists pertaining to the confluent impact of housing characteristics and geology. This study evaluated the efficacy of housing and geological characteristics to predict radon risk in DeKalb County, Georgia, USA. Four major types of data were used: (1) three databases of indoor radon concentrations (n = 6757); (2) geologic maps of rock types and fault zones; (3) a database of 402 in situ measurements of gamma emissions, and (4) two databases of housing characteristics. The Getis-Ord method was used to delineate hot spots of radon concentrations. Empirical Bayesian Kriging was used to predict gamma radiation at each radon test site. Chi-square tests, bivariate correlation coefficients, and logistic regression were used to examine the impact of geological and housing factors on radon. The results showed that indoor radon levels were more likely to exceed the action level-4 pCi/L (148 Bq/m3) designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-in fault zones, were significantly positively correlated to gamma readings, but significantly negatively related to the presence of a crawlspace foundation and its combination with a slab. The findings suggest that fault mapping and in situ gamma ray measurements, coupled with analysis of foundation types and delineation of hot spots, may be used to prioritize areas for radon screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dajun Dai
- Department of Geosciences, Georgia State University, 38 Peachtree Center Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States of America.
| | - Fredrick B Neal
- Department of Geosciences, Georgia State University, 38 Peachtree Center Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States of America; Critigen LLC, 7555 East Hampden Avenue, Suite 415, Denver, CO 80231, United States of America
| | - Jeremy Diem
- Department of Geosciences, Georgia State University, 38 Peachtree Center Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States of America
| | - Daniel M Deocampo
- Department of Geosciences, Georgia State University, 38 Peachtree Center Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States of America
| | - Christine Stauber
- School of Public Health, Georgia State University, 140 Decatur Street, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States of America
| | - Timothy Dignam
- Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, 30341, United States of America
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Ruano-Ravina A, Narocki C, López-Jacob MJ, García Oliver A, Calle Tierno MDLC, Peón-González J, Barros-Dios JM. Indoor radon in Spanish workplaces. A pilot study before the introduction of the European Directive 2013/59/Euratom. GACETA SANITARIA 2018; 33:563-567. [PMID: 30131204 DOI: 10.1016/j.gaceta.2018.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Revised: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore whether there is a possible problem regarding indoor radon concentration surpassing the new European Directive 2013/59/Euratom threshold in Spanish workplaces. We also aim to find out whether radon concentration might be associated with certain characteristics of workplaces. METHOD We performed a cross-sectional study to measure indoor radon concentrations in Spanish workplaces including five different sectors (education, public administration, the health sector, the tourist sector and the private sector). To be measured, the workplace should be occupied permanently by at least one worker. Alpha-track type radon detectors were placed for at least three months and read at the Galician Radon Laboratory at the University of Santiago de Compostela. A descriptive analysis was performed on radon distribution by sector, building characteristics and number of workers affected. RESULTS We faced enormous difficulties in finding volunteers for this study. Galicia and Madrid had the highest number of measurements. Of a total of 248 measurements, 27% had concentrations above 300 Bq/m3. Median radon concentration was 251 Bq/m3 in Galicia, followed by Madrid, with 61.5 Bq/m3. Forty-six percent of the workplaces measured in Galicia had radon concentrations higher than 300 Bq/m3 followed by 10.6% in Madrid. Nineteen percent of all workers were exposed to more than 300 Bq/m3 and 6.3% were exposed to radon concentrations higher than 500 Bq/m3. CONCLUSION Indoor radon exposure might be a relevant problem in Spanish workplaces and the number of affected workers could be high. The prevalence of workers exposed to high radon concentrations probably depends on the geographical area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Ruano-Ravina
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela (La Coruña), Spain; CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain; Galician Radon Laboratory, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela (La Coruña), Spain.
| | - Claudia Narocki
- Instituto Sindical de Trabajo, Ambiente y Salud (ISTAS), Comisiones Obreras, Madrid, Spain
| | - María José López-Jacob
- Instituto Sindical de Trabajo, Ambiente y Salud (ISTAS), Comisiones Obreras, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Joaquín Peón-González
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela (La Coruña), Spain; Galician Radon Laboratory, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela (La Coruña), Spain
| | - Juan Miguel Barros-Dios
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela (La Coruña), Spain; CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain; Galician Radon Laboratory, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela (La Coruña), Spain; Service of Preventive Medicine, University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela (La Coruña), Spain
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Tsapalov A, Kovler K. Indoor radon regulation using tabulated values of temporal radon variation. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2018; 183:59-72. [PMID: 29306093 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2017] [Revised: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Mass measurements of indoor radon concentrations have been conducted for about 30 years. In most of the countries, a national reference/action/limit level is adopted, limiting the annual average indoor radon (AAIR) concentration. However, until now, there is no single and generally accepted international protocol for determining the AAIR with a known confidence interval, based on measurements of different durations. Obviously, as the duration of measurements increases, the uncertainty of the AAIR estimation decreases. The lack of the information about the confidence interval of the determined AAIR level does not allow correct comparison with the radon reference level. This greatly complicates development of an effective indoor radon measurement protocol and strategy. The paper proposes a general principle of indoor radon regulation, based on the simple criteria widely used in metrology, and introduces a new parameter - coefficient of temporal radon variation KV(t) that depends on the measurement duration and determines the uncertainty of the AAIR. An algorithm for determining KV(t) based on the results of annual continuous radon monitoring in experimental rooms is proposed. Included are indoor radon activity concentrations and equilibrium equivalent concentration (EEC) of radon progeny. The monitoring was conducted in 10 selected experimental rooms located in 7 buildings, mainly in the Moscow region (Russia), from 2006 to 2013. The experimental and tabulated values of KV(t) and also the values of the coefficient of temporal EEC variation depending on the mode and duration of the measurements were obtained. The recommendations to improve the efficiency and reliability of indoor radon regulation are given. The importance of taking into account the geological factors is discussed. The representativity of the results of the study is estimated and the approach for their verification is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrey Tsapalov
- Scientific & Technical Centre "AMPLITUDA", Gen. Alekseeva 15, Zelenograd, Moscow, Russia
| | - Konstantin Kovler
- National Building Research Institute, Faculty of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
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Barros NG, Steck DJ, Field RW. A comparison of winter short-term and annual average radon measurements in basements of a radon-prone region and evaluation of further radon testing indicators. HEALTH PHYSICS 2014; 106:535-44. [PMID: 24670901 PMCID: PMC4006371 DOI: 10.1097/hp.0000000000000004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The primary objective of this study was to investigate the temporal variability between basement winter short-term (7 to 10 d) and basement annual radon measurements. Other objectives were to test the short-term measurement's diagnostic performance at two reference levels and to evaluate its ability to predict annual average basement radon concentrations. Electret ion chamber (short-term) and alpha track (annual) radon measurements were obtained by trained personnel in Iowa residences. Overall, the geometric mean of the short-term radon concentrations (199 Bq m) was slightly greater than the geometric mean of the annual radon concentrations (181 Bq m). Short-term tests correctly predicted annual radon concentrations to be above the 148 Bq m action level 88% of the time and above a 74 Bq m level 98% of the time. The short-term and annual radon concentrations were strongly correlated (r = 0.87, p < 0.0001). The foundation wall material of the basement was the only significant factor to have an impact on the absolute difference between the short-term and annual measurements. The findings from this study provide evidence of a substantially lower likelihood of obtaining a false negative result from a single short-term test in a region with high indoor radon potential when the reference level is lowered to 74 Bq m.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nirmalla G. Barros
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
| | - Daniel J. Steck
- Department of Physics, St. John’s University, Collegeville, MN 56321
| | - R. William Field
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
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Llerena JJ, Cortina D, Durán I, Sorribas R. An approach to the subslab depressurization remedial action in a high (222)Rn concentration dwelling. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2010; 101:219-225. [PMID: 19969402 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2009.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2009] [Revised: 11/09/2009] [Accepted: 11/12/2009] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Galicia (NW Spain) is a radon-prone area in the Iberian Peninsula. Measurements were carried out at a rural dwelling, with an annual average of radon concentration over 4000 Bq m(-3) and a maximum of 9000 Bq m(-3), found during a radon screening campaign held in the Autonomous Community of Galicia. We performed a detailed study to identify the main contamination source and the behaviour of the radon concentration, in which a linear dependence with temperature was verified, once corrected for relative humidity. We used different passive methods (charcoal canisters and two types of etched track detectors) as well as a radon concentration monitor that provided continuous measurement. Subsequent to this characterization, and in order to reduce the high radon concentration, a remedial action was developed using different passive and forced ventilation methods. A modified subslab depressurization technique was found to be the most effective remedy, providing a radon concentration reduction of around 96%. This method also has the advantages of being inexpensive and reliable over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- J J Llerena
- Laboratorio de Análisis de Radiaciones, Departamento de Física de Partículas, Grupo Experimental de Núcleos y Partículas, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
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