DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Evaluation of Effective Dose and Exposure Levels of Radon in Office and Plant Buildings

일부 제조업 사업장의 사무 및 공장동에서의 라돈농도 수준 및 유효선량 평가

  • Chung, Eun Kyo (Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, KOSHA) ;
  • Kim, Ki Woong (Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, KOSHA)
  • 정은교 (한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원) ;
  • 김기웅 (한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원)
  • Received : 2016.07.18
  • Accepted : 2017.03.17
  • Published : 2017.03.31

Abstract

Objectives: Radon may be second only to smoking as a cause of lung cancer. Radon is a colorless, tasteless radioactive gas that is formed via the radioactive decay of radium. Therefore, radon levels can build up based on the amount of radium contained in construction materials such as phospho-gypsum board or when ventilation rates are low. This study provides our findings from evaluation of radon gas at facilities and offices in an industrial complex. Methods: We evaluated the office rooms and processes of 12 manufacturing factories from May 14, 2014 to September 23, 2014. Short-term data were measured by using real-time monitoring detectors(Model 1030, Sun Nuclear Co., USA) indoors in the office buildings. The radon measurements were recorded at 30-minute intervals over approximately 48 hours. The limit of detection of this instrument is $3.7Bq/m^3$. Also, long-term data were measured by using ${\alpha}-track$ radon detectors(${\alpha}-track$, Rn-tech Co., Korea) in the office and factory buildings. Our detectors were exposed for over 90 days, resulting in a minimum detectable concentration of $7.4Bq/m^3$. Detectors were placed 150-220 cm above the floor. Results: Radon concentrations averaged $20.6{\pm}17.0Bq/m^3$($3.7-115.8Bq/m^3$) in the overall area. The monthly mean concentration of radon by building materials were in the order of gypsum>concrete>cement. Radon concentrations were measured using ${\alpha}-track$ in parallel with direct-reading radon detectors and the two metric methods for radon monitoring were compared. A t-test for the two sampling methods showed that there is no difference between the average radon concentrations(p<0.05). Most of the office buildings did not have central air-conditioning, but several rooms had window- or ceiling-mounted units. Employees could also open windows. The first, second and third floors were used mainly for office work. Conclusions: Radon levels measured during this assessment in the office rooms of buildings and processes in factories were well below the ICRP reference level of $1,000Bq/m^3$ for workplaces and also below the lower USEPA residential guideline of $148Bq/m^3$. The range of indoor annual effective dose due to radon exposure for workers working in the office and factory buildings was 0.01 to 1.45 mSv/yr. Construction materials such as phospho-gypsum board, concrete and cement were the main emission sources for workers' exposure.

Keywords

References

  1. Choi BS, Kang DH, Park YU, Shin YC. Cancer of the lung evaluation and assessment of risk of mining workers : exposure levels of carcinogen agents. Research Report of Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute(Pub. No. S-RD-2000).; 2000. p. 51-53
  2. Je HK. Overview of recent radon policy and radon industry in and outside the country. Journal of the Korean Society for Geosystem Engineering. 2010; 47(3) : 400-405
  3. Jeon JS, Kim DC. Distribution of radon concentrationin Seoul subway stations. J of KSEE 2006; 28(6): 588-595
  4. Jeon JS, Kim DC, LEE JY. Temporal variations and sources of Rn-222 in subway stations. J. of KSEE 2007;29(11):1231-1242
  5. Kang CH, Ko HJ, Sin SH, Hu CG, Kim WH et al. Time-series variation of atmospheric radon concentrations at Gosan site, Jeju island. Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment 2013;29(1):86-96 https://doi.org/10.5572/KOSAE.2013.29.1.86
  6. Kang YH, Park JS, Kim DS. Radon measurement by alpha particle track method. Journal of Radiation Protection and Research 1982;7(1):17-22
  7. Kim DS, Kim YS, Kim SD, Shin EB, Kim SC et al. Concentration distributions and a reduction strategy of airborne radon in Seoul metropolitan subway stations. J. KAPRA 1993;9(4):271-277
  8. Kim SA, Paik NW. A study on indoor radon concentrations in urban area. Kor. J. Env. Hlth. Soc. 2002;28(2):89-98
  9. Kim YS. Indoor radon levels in four different areas in Korea. Journal of Korean journal of environmental health society 1990; 16(1):1-7
  10. Kim YS, Kim HT, Lee CM, Jang KS, An JH. A study on distribution of particulate and radon concentrations in indoor environment in Seoul city. Journal of Korea Society For Atmospheric Environment 2000; 2:365-366
  11. Lee CM, Kim YS, Kim JC, Jeon HJ. Distribution of radon concentration at subway station in Seoul, J Environ Health Sci. 2004; 30(5): 469-480
  12. NIER(National Institute of Environmental Research). Nationwide survey(2009-2010) of indoor radon at home in Korea- Public facilities. Ministry of Environment(NIER-RP2012-233). 2011. p.1-37
  13. NIER(National Institute of Environmental Research). Nationwide survey(2013-2014) of indoor radon at home in Korea- Public facilities. Ministry of Environment. 2015. Available from: http://www.me.go.kr/home/web/board/read.do?boardMasterId=1&boardId=495570&menuId=286
  14. Ohio Department of Health. Indoor radon program; School radon testing checklist. Bureau of Environmental Health and Radiation Protection.; 2008. p.1-6. Available from : https://www.odh.ohio.gov/-/media/ODH/ASSETS/Files/eh/school%20environmental%20health/schoolradon testingchecklist.pdf
  15. Paik NW, Chung MH. Assessment of underground air quality and identification of asbestos containing material. Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity(R01-2001-000-00227-0).; 2003. p. 1-40
  16. Seo SY, Yoo JH, Kim HD, Lee KS, Oh SJ et al. A study on the spatial distribution characteristics of indoor radon level in Korea. National Institute of Environmental Research(NIER-RP2012-234).; 2012. p.1-32
  17. Shin DC, Park SE, Kim JY. Health risk of radon in schools. The Environment Education 1999; 12(2): 81-90
  18. Son BS, Lee KS, Seo SY, Kim YJ, Choi KH. A Study on the indoor radon concentration of elementary school in Korea. Journal of Korean Society for Indoor Environment 2012; 9(2): 127-133
  19. Son BS, Woo KS, Oh SJ, Park HJ, Seo SY et al. A study on the concentration of radon for house, government office and school in Chungnam area. Journal of Odor and Indoor Environment 2014;13(1):73-79 https://doi.org/10.15250/joie.2014.13.1.73
  20. Tirmarche M, Harrison JD, Laurier D, Paquet F, Blanchardon E et al. Lung cancer risk from radon and progeny. ICRP Publication 115. 2010. ICRP 37 (11-56).
  21. Yim SH, Choi SJ, Lee YK. A study on radon exposure in air and management strategies for underground workers. Research Report of Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute(Pub. No. 2006-223-945).; 2008. p. 120-124