• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.141-149
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• 2023

The Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences plans to produce ²²⁵Ac, a therapeutic radio-pharmaceutical for precision oncology, such as prostate cancer. Radon, a radioactive gas, is generated by radium, the target material for producing ²²⁵Ac. The radon concentration is expected to be about 2000 Bq·m^-3. High-concentration radon-generating facilities must meet radioactive isotope emission standards by lowering the radon concentration. However, most existing studies concerning radon removal using activated carbon filters measured radon levels at concentrations lower than 1000 Bq·m^-3. This study measured ²²²Rn removal of coconut-based activated carbon filter under a high radon concentration of about 2000 Bq·m^-3. The ²²²Rn removal efficiency of activated carbon impregnated with triethylenediamine was also measured. As a result, the ²²²Rn removal amount of the activated carbon filter showed sufficient removal efficiency in a ²²²Rn concentration environment of about 2000 Bq·m^-3. In addition, despite an expectation of low radon reduction efficiency of Triethylenediamine-impregnated activated carbon, it was difficult to confirm a significant difference in the results. Therefore, it is considered that activated carbon can be used as a radioisotope exhaust filter regardless of whether or not Triethylenediamine is impregnated. The results of this study are expected to be used as primary data when building an air purification system for radiation safety management in facilities with radon concentrations of about 2000 Bq·m^-3.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.33-42
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to understand the degree of natural radon removal efficiency of small-scale water supply systems. Six sites were selected for this study, and data on well characteristics (depth, pumping rate, water tank capacity, distance from well to tap water) were obtained. Water samples both from raw water and three tap waters at each site were collected and analyzed for radon concentration. Average radon removal efficiency of the five sites (A-E) in Nov. 2006 was 26.0% while that of the same sites in Dec. 2006 was 45.6% indicating seasonal difference in natural radon removal efficiency. Meanwhile short-term (April 23, April 30, May 8, 2007) radon removal efficiency from the site F was 44.1-49.0%, implying only a little difference in natural radon removal efficiency. The degree of radon removal at tap water was influenced mainly by pumping rate rather than distance from the well and water tank capacity.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.37-50
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• 2019

It is possible that radon removal in groundwater of small-scale water supply system (SWSS) is caused by atmospheric storage and aeration facilities installed in the water tank. Radon removal rates at water tank and tap of the 32 SWSS during summer season ranged from -69.3% to 62.7% (average 25.7%) and from -64.3% to 83.1% (average 30.3%) while those of 16 SWSS during autumn season ranged from 21.3% to 78.0% (average 42.8%) and from 17.7% to 66.9% (average 44.8%). The reason of higher radon removal rate in the autumn season compared with the summer season is due to higher atmospheric storage effect by lower groundwater use rate. The radon removal rates at the water tank from 12 SWSS were 47.4~94.0% (average 78.9%), in which the removal rates at the atmospheric storage are also included. Atmospheric storage and aeration can be used to reduce radon concentration in SWSS groundwater. For more efficient use of radon reduction, further studies are necessary to assess the radon removal rate considering variation conditions of radon concentration in groundwater, size and forms of water tank, change in groundwater usage rate, aeration capacity and ventilation facilities.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.353-360
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• 2015

Boiling is an efficient removal method to reduce radon in groundwater when ventilating indoor air. 13 groundwater samples with various radon concentrations were used to evaluate the reduction rate of radon with heating temperature and time. The groundwater samples were obtained by Bladder pump and on-situ measurements such as dissolved oxygen (DO) and hydrogen concentration (pH) and so on were carried out by a flow cell system isolated from the ambient atmosphere environment. All samples for measuring radon in groundwater were analyzed by liquid scintillation counter (LSC). The experiment result showed that increasing groundwater temperature enhanced radon removal rate but the initial radon concentration with high level lowered the removal rate. This means that radon reduction in groundwater by heating needs more heating energy and longer heating time with radon concentrations. Radon removal rate in groundwater, therefore, mainly depends on the initial radon concentration, heating temperature, and heating time.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.52-57
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• 2013

Radon, which is one of the radioactive elements in the natural world, exists in the atmosphere and water. When this element inflows into the human body, it carries the risks of developing lung cancer and stomach cancer. Therefore, in this study, an effective 10 L scaled reactor was produced to mitigate radon in water and the radon mitigation efficiency in water following the changes in water temperature and amount of aeration were evaluated. Based on this, the radon mitigation efficiency (SRRR; Specific radon removal rate) was derived per unit air volume. According to the study result, when water temperature increased from $10^{\circ}C$ to $16^{\circ}C$, the SRRR value increased from 95 $nCi/m^3{\cdot}L$ to 134.4 $nCi/m^3{\cdot}L$, and when the amount of aeration increased from 0.2 L/min to 1 L/min, the SRRR value decreased from 198.1 $nCi/m^3{\cdot}L$ to 72.2 $nCi/m^3{\cdot}L$. Therefore, based on the experimental results, it is considered that it can be applied as a examination factor and objective indicator during the design of future radon-in-water mitigation systems.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.421-424
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• 2015

In this study, To subject the constructed at N-kindergarten in G-city, the position is closed window and opened window was measured using a measuring instrument for radon. The measured results indicate that the measurement was carried out in concentrations of radon gas measured at N-kindergarten is low than United States in the radon concentration in air public 4pCi called radon gas baseline maximum allowable concentrations. As a result, radon exposure is not a problem, but when the accumulation radon gas in the lungs, get damaged same lung cancer. Be defensive of kindergarten windows open for ventilation and dust removal be possible to reduce the exposure.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.139-147
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• 2019

In this study, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the properties of cement matrix using diatomite and silica gel as adsorbents of radon. The adsorption properties of diatomite of a natural adsorbent and silica gel of an artificial sorbent were examined to confirm the reduction of radon gas concentration of the removal of radon gas in the indoor environment of the human body. We conducted a performance evaluation for the study. The fluidity, air content, density, absorption, flexural failure load, thermal conductivity and radon gas concentration of the specimen using diatomite and silica gel were measured. the fluidity and the air content of the adsorbed matrix with diatomite were decreased as the diatomite replacement ratio increased. Which seems to affect the subsequent matrix by the absorption of the compounding water of diatomite. As the replacement rate of silica gel increased, the fluidity decreased and the air content increased up to constant replacement rate. It is judged that the surface of the silica gel has a critical point at which it can react with moisture.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.207-218
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• 2017

In this study, pitch-based activated carbon fibers (ACFs) were modified with pyrolysis fuel oil (PFO). Carbonized ACF samples were activated at $850^{\circ}C$, $880^{\circ}C$ and $900^{\circ}C$. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a BET surface area apparatus were employed to evaluate the indoor radon removal of each sample. Among three samples, the BET surface area and micropore area of ACF880 recorded the highest value with $1,420m^2{\cdot}g^{-1}$ and $1,270m^2{\cdot}g^{-1}$. Moreover, ACF880 had the lowest external surface area and BJH adsorption cumulative surface area of pores with $151m^2{\cdot}g^{-1}$ and $35.5m^2{\cdot}g^{-1}$. This indicates that satisfactory surface area depends on the appropriate temperature. With the above scope, ACF880 also achieved the highest radon absorption rate and speed in comparison to other samples. Therefore, we suggest that the optimum activation temperature for PFO containing ACFs is $880^{\circ}C$ for effective indoor radon adsorption.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.40 no.7
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• pp.539-550
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• 2008

Lung cancer is the most prevalent global cancer, ${\sim}90%$ of which is caused by cigarette smoking. The LNT hypothesis has been inappropriately applied to estimate lung cancer risk due to ionizing radiation. A threshold of ${\sim}1\;Gy$ for lung cancer has been observed in never smokers. Lung cancer risk among nuclear workers, radiologists and diagnostically exposed patients was typically reduced by ${\sim}40%$ following exposure to <100 mSv low LET radiation. The consistency and magnitude of reduced lung cancer in nuclear workers and occurrence of reduced lung cancer in exposed non-worker populations could not be explained by the HWE. Ecologic studies of indoor radon showed highly significant reductions in lung cancer risk. A similar reduction in lung cancer was seen in a recent well designed case-control study of indoor radon, indicating that exposure to radon at the EPA action level is associated with a decrease of ${\sim}60%$ in lung cancer. A cumulative whole-body dose of ${\sim}1\;Gy$ gamma rays is associated with a marked decrease in smoking-induced lung cancer in plutonium workers. Low dose, low LET radiation appears to increase apoptosis mediated removal of $\alpha$-particle and cigarette smoke transformed pulmonary cells before they can develop into lung cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.297-302
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• 2017

Recently, building materials and air purification filters with eco-friendly charcoal are actively studying to reduce the concentration of radon gas in indoor air. In this study, radon reduction performance was assessed by designing and producing new panel-type activated carbon filter that can be handled more efficiently than conventional charcoal filters, which can reduce radon gas. For the fabrication of our panel-type activated carbon filter, first the pressed molding product after mixing activated carbon powder and polyurethane. Then, through diamond cutting, the activated carbon filter of 2 mm, 4 mm and 6 mm thickness were fabricated. To investigate the physical characteristics of the fabricated activated carbon filter, a surface area and flexural strength measurement was performed. In addition, to evaluate the reduction performance of radon gas in indoor, the radon concentration of before and after the filter passes from a constant amount of air flow using three acrylic chambers was measured, respectively. As a result, the surface area of the fabricated activated carbon was approximately $1,008m^2/g$ showing similar value to conventional products. Also, the flexural load was found to have three times higher value than the gypsum board with 435 N. Finally, the radon reduction efficiency from indoor gas improved as the thickness of the activated carbon increases, resulting in an excellent radon removal rate of more than 90 % in the 6 mm thick filter. From the experimental results, the panel-type activated carbon is considered to be available as an eco-friendly building material to reduce radon gas in an enclosed indoor environment.