Particle and aerosol research (한국입자에어로졸학회지)

Korean Association for Particle and Aerosol Research (한국입자에어로졸학회)
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The Correlation between Radon (Rn222) and Particulate Matters (PM10, PM2.5, PM1.0) in Subway Tunnel in Seoul.

  • Versoza, Michael (Transportation Environmental Research Team, Korea Railroad Research Institute) ;
  • Park, Duckshin (Transportation Environmental Research Team, Korea Railroad Research Institute)
  • Received : 2017.03.27
  • Accepted : 2017.06.13
  • Published : 2017.06.30
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Abstract

Radon ($Rn^{222}$) is a radioactive gas and is found at high concentrations underground. Investigations were done in many years specifically on public transportations such as in the subway stations, concourses and platforms for these are located underground areas. This study correlates the $Rn^{222}$ concentrations with the Particulate Matter (PM) concentration for the gas could be attached or trapped inside these particles. It was done on the opening subway tunnel of Miasageori Station going to Mia Station (Line 4) last August 2016. Based on the result, the $Rn^{222}$ were more influenced on the mass ratio (%) of PM present in the air instead of its mass concentration (${\mu}g/m^3$). As the $PM_{10}$ mass ratio increases ($42.32{\pm}1.03%$) during morning rush-hours, radon starts to increase up to $0.97{\pm}0.03pCi/L$. But during the afternoon $Rn^{222}$ concentrations decreased while the composition were stable at $22.96{\pm}3.0%$, $39.04{\pm}0.6%$ and $38.01{\pm}0.3%$ in $PM_1$, $PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_{10}$ respectively. It was then assumed that it could be the composition of the morning hours of the station were influencing the concentration of the radon.

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References

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