A Study on the Radon Concentration in the Office

Objectives: This study is aimed at examining radon exposure in offices and the factors that can influence the concentrations. Methods: Indoor radon concentrations in a total of 30 places were measured from January 18 to 21, 2016, targeting six buildings in Seoul with different completion years. The measurement was conducted according to the radon measurement guidelines for indoor air suggested by the Ministry of Environment. Results: As a result of comparing each average concentration, underground area concentration was $42.850{\pm}22.501Bq/m^3$, and that of the ground floors was $27.850{\pm}12.232Bq/m^3$, which was lower than the concentration in the underground areas and statistically significant (p=0.045). As a result of comparing the concentration according to whether or not outside air entered, the average concentration for ventilated areas was $24.876{\pm}11.833Bq/m^3$, and the average concentration for enclosed areas was $47.892{\pm}19.375Bq/m^3$. The concentration in ventilated areas was lower at a statistically significant level (p=0.001). Finally, as a result of the multiple regression analysis for evaluating the factors influencing radon concentration, only ventilation was significant (p=0.007). Conclusions: As a result of measuring radon in office buildings, there was no place that exceeding the recommended standard of the US EPA, but the concentration in poorly ventilated areas was measured to be high. An effort to manage radon concentration and reduce it through the improvement of ventilation systems, repeated measurement is necessary in the future.

사무실 내 라돈 농도에 관한 연구