• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.24 no.9
• /
• pp.1131-1138
• /
• 2015

Radon exhalation rates have been determined for samples of concrete, gypsum board, marble, and tile among building materials that are used in domestic construction environment. Radon emanation was measured using the closed chamber method based on CR-39 nuclear track detectors. The radon concentrations in apartments of 100 households in Seoul, Busan and Gyeonggi Provinces were measured to verify the prediction model of indoor radon concentration. The results obtained by the four samples showed the largest radon exhalation rate of $0.34314Bq/m^2{\cdot}h$ for sample concrete. The radon concentration contribution to indoor radon in the house due to exhalation from the concrete was $31.006{\pm}7.529Bq/m^3$. The difference between the prediction concentration and actual measured concentration was believed to be due to the uncertainty resulting from the model implementation.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.11-18
• /
• 1989

Indoor radon concentrations, measured in 34 houses and various types of underground environments in the Seoul area during February 1988 - January 1989, varied from 0.9 - 9.9 pCi/l. Radon concentrations in basements of the selected homes were about 1.5 times higher than those levels measured in the first floor. The radon level of the first floor in the energy efficient homes are signficantly higher than the conventional homes. Indoor radon levels in the underground pass were higher than any other types of underground environments. Variations among underground environments were much less than for homes, probably because there was less variability in ventilation.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.79-83
• /
• 1995

A number of investigators have reported formation of radiolytic ultrafine particles produced by the interaction of ionizing radiation with atmospheric trace gases. Previous studies have suggested that a very high localized concentration of the hydroxyl radical produced by the radiolysis of water can react with atmospheric trace gases such as $SO_2$ and produce lower vapor pressure compounds that can subsequently nucleate. To determine the trace gas and water vapor concentration dependence of the active, positively charged, first decayt product of radon (Po-218), a well-controlled radon chamber was used in this research. The mobility spectrum of the decay products in the range of $0.07-5.0cm^2/V\;sec$ from the radon chamber was measured using alpha track detector installed inside a specially-designed electrostatic spectrometer. Measurements were taken for different concentrations (0.5ppm to 5ppm) of $SO_2$ in Purified, Compressed air. A kinetics Study following the clustering of $SO_2$ around the $PoO_x^+$ ion in an excess of $SO_2$ for interpretation of the reaction processes was performed.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.57-70
• /
• 1992

An excess risk of lung cancer mortality among Koreans, attributable to indoor $^{222}Rn$ daughters exposure, were quantitatively evaluated by applying a stochastic health risk projection model on the radiation exposure. The lung cancer rate in Korean males and females, based on the 1989 demographic data, were estimated to be $22.4/10^5-y\;and\;9.5/10^5-y$, respectively The lifetime baseline lung cancer risks, deduced from these rates, appeared to be 0.047 and 0.019 for males and females, respectively, and were lower than the corresponding 1984 values of 0.067 and 0.025 in the U.S.A. The excess risk coefficients, derived by modified relative risk projection model of the BEIR-IV Committee under the US National Academy of Science, per annual 1.0 WLM of exposure to indoor radon daughters were estimated to be 0.022/WLM for males, 0.009/WLM for females, and 0.017/WLM for both sexes. The resulting annual frequency of excess lung cancer mortality for the life expectancy in the Korean population appeared to be 230/10^6-WLM, which was an approximate median of $120{\sim}450/10^6-WLM$ reported so far in the world.

• KIEAE Journal
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.21-28
• /
• 2001

Naturally-ocurring short-lived decay products of radon gas in indoor air are the dominant source of ionizing radiation exposure to the general public. It is written in BEIR VI Report(l999l the radon progeny were identified as the second cause of lung cancer next to cigarette or 10 % to 14 %(15,400 to 21,800 persons p.a.) of all lung cancer deaths in USA. Indoor radon concentrations in houses typically result from radon gaining access to houses mainly from the underlying soil. In the States, they have "Indoor Radon Abatement Act" which was converted from "Toxic Substance Control Act" in 1988 to establish the national long-term goal that indoor air should be as free of radon as the ambient air outside of buildings. To review and study techniques for controlling radon, two test cells were constructed for a series of tests and are under measuring indoor and soil gas (underneath of floor slab)radon concentrations according to EPA's measurement protocol. In this paper, important theoretical studies are previewed and the following paper will explain the test results and confirm the theories reviewed to find out suitable coefficients. On the basis of test analysis, it will be described and evaluated various techniques that can be used to mitigate elevated indoor concentration of radon including the control of radon and its decay products.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.89-98
• /
• 2002

This study was taken in general hospital, hotel, shopping center, underground cafe, school, house, for the purpose of investigating the distribution of indoor radon concentration in urban area, by E-PERM which approved U.S. EPA, between August and November 1999. There are two sampling Places were exceed 148 ㏃/㎥(4 pCi/L; U.S EPA remedial level), difference mean is 24.0㏃/㎥ when compared with underground vs. aboveground indoor radon concentration in the same building and ratio is 1.6, so underground area is higher than aboveground (p<0.05). Influencing factors were examined. They related to the location of sampler(detector) open or near the door is lower radon concentration than inside portion, which explains probably open area has better ventilated air and dilutes indoor radon concentration. Temperature has a negative relationship (p<0.05) with indoor radon concentration and relative humidity has a positive (p<0.05) Simultaneously to investigate water radon concentration, collected piped-water and the results were very low, which is the same in piped-water concentration other countries. In conclusion, underground indoor radon concentration is higher than aboveground. Concentration was related to sampling spot, open portion is lower than inside. Higher the temperature, lower the indoor radon concentrations. On the other hand higher the relative humidity, higher the indoor radon concentrations. Indoor radon concentration is influenced by sampling point, temperature, relative humidity.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.71-76
• /
• 2002

A survey of radon concentrations in both indoor and outdoor atmospheres was carried out using EIRM and Cup Monitor for the period of February 1996 to March 1997. EIRM were used to measure the indoor and outdoor radon concentration at five major cities university. Cup Monitor were also used to measure the indoor radon concentrations at shopping store, office building, apartment, hospital and house in Seoul. The mean indoor and outdoor radon concentrations at the five major cities(Seoul, Daegu, Daejon, Cwangiu and Busan) were 24.1 Bq/m$^3$and 8.62 Bq/m$^3$, respectively. The ratio of indoor to outdoor radon concentrations ranged front 1.7 to 3.9. Inspection of its seasonal distribute pattern indicates the enhancement during winter relative to summer, consistently for both indoor and outdoor air. The results of the survey showed that the concentrations in basements were clearly higher than those in usual living/working places.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.117-124
• /
• 2020

In this paper, we proposed a plan to maintain comfortable indoor air quality in nursing homes by suggesting ways to reduce items temporarily exceeding the reference values through real-time concentration variation analysis of indoor air quality. Five items including PM10, CO₂, CO, VOC, and Radon are measured at nursing homes in spring (April) and autumn (September) was carried out and all of the measured items were analyzed to satisfy the criteria set by the Indoor Air Quality Control Act. As a result of the analysis of the real-time concentration change, the concentration of CO₂ was close to the reference value based on the number of occupants in the sick room. Due to the disinfectant (alcohol) used to disinfect and the auxiliary tools (adhesive) used in the operation of the program such as making and coloring, it was analyzed to temporarily exceed the standard value in the hall. In conclusion, it is possible to provide pleasant indoor air quality and contribute to securing the nursing home's competitiveness if periodic ventilation, natural disinfectant and eco-friendly product are used in consideration of the thermal environment.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.264-275
• /
• 2007

The objective of this study was to offer basic and scientific data for decision-making of policy for improvement and management of radon, natural radiation gas, in Korea and to form the foundation of radon related international cooperation. Therefore, this study collected and re-analysed the articles on exposure of radon in various indoor environment in journals related environment in Korea since 1980 and estimated the annual exposure dose and effective dose by exposure of radon received by inhabitants in them. The highest pooled average radon concentration of $50.17{\pm}4.08\;Bq/m^3$ (95% CI : $42.17{\sim}58.17\;Bq/m^3$) was found in dwelling house among various indoor environment. All of pooled average radon concentration estimated in this study showed lower than the guideline concentration ($148\;Bq/m^3)$ of US EPA and the Korean Ministry of Environment. The annual effective dose received by inhabitants in various indoor environment was estimated 1.071 mSv/yr. That is equal to annual effective dose (1.0 mSv/yr) by exposure of radon estimated by UNSCEAR.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.203-211
• /
• 2009

A lesser degree of research is available with respect to indoor radon characteristics associated with occupants' exposure. The present study evaluated the radon levels in several public-access buildings or underground facilities, and their temporal variation in underground facilities. Radon measurements were conducted in 2005 and 2006, utilizing a continuous radon detector. A solid alpha detector (RAD7) was utilized to measure indoor radon levels. The mean radon concentrations obtained from the building or facilities were in a descending order: platforms of Daegu subway line 2, 2005 (32 $Bq/m^3$), hot-air bathroom (14 $Bq/m^3$), basement of office building (14 $Bq/m^3$), underground parking garage (14 $Bq/m^3$), underground shop (12 $Bq/m^3$), nursery (10 $Bq/m^3$), platforms of Daegu subway line 2, 2006 (9.0 $Bq/m^3$), platforms of Daegu subway line 1, 2006 (8.9 $Bq/m^3$), supermarket (7.9 $Bq/m^3$), hospital (7.3 $Bq/m^3$), and second-floor of office building (5.7 $Bq/m^3$). In general, underground-level facilities exhibited higher radon levels as compared with ground-level facilities. It was suggested that ventilation is an important parameter regarding the indoor levels of a subway. There was a decreasing or increasing trend in hourly-radon levels in a subway, whereas no trend were observed in a basement of office building. In addition, the radon levels in the subway lines 1 and 2 varied according to the platforms. The radon levels in the present study were much lower than those of previous studies. The average annual effective dose (AED) of radiation from indoor radon exposure was estimated to be between 0.043 and 0.242 mSv/yr, depending on facility types. These AEDs were substantially lower than the worldwide average AED (2.4 mSv/yr).