• 자원ㆍ환경경제연구
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.505-529
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• 2022

라돈은 폐암사망 위험을 일으키는 방사성 가스이다. 본 논문은 조건부가치측정법(CVM)을 이용하여 우리나라 주택에서의 라돈 노출로 인한 사망자의 통계적 생명가치(VSL)를 20억 5,373만 원으로 추정하였다. 2020년의 경우, 주택 라돈으로 인한 사망자 수는 2,330명, 그 사회적 비용은 4조 7,836억 원으로 추정하였다. 주택에 대한 국가 라돈 농도 규제기준을 200Bq/m³로 설정하면 691명의 사망자 수가 감소하여 1조 4,191억 원의 사회적 편익이 발생하는 것으로 나타났다. 본 논문은 주택 라돈 노출의 원천과 특징 및 건강위해성(health risk)을 상세히 논하고 주택 라돈 저감을 위한 정책 예산의 획기적인 증액이 중요함을 강조하였다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권6호
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• pp.2459-2465
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• 2012

Background: Numbers of epidemiological studies assessing residential radon exposure and risk of lung cancer have yielded inconsistent results. Methods: We therefore performed a meta-analysis of relevant published case-control studies searched in the PubMed database through July 2011 to examine the association. The combined odds ratio (OR) were calculated using fixed- or random-effects models. Subgroup and dose-response analyses were also performed. Results: We identified 22 case-control studies of residential radon and lung cancer risk involving 13,380 cases and 21,102 controls. The combined OR of lung cancer for the highest with the lowest exposure was 1.29 (95% CI 1.10-1.51). Dose-response analysis showed that every 100 Bq/$m^3$ increment in residential radon exposure was associated with a significant 7% increase in lung cancer risk. Subgroup analysis displayed a more pronounced association in the studies conducted in Europe. Studies restricted to female or non-smokers demonstrated weakened associations between exposure and lung cancer. Conclusions: This meta-analysis provides new evidence supporting the conclusion that residential exposure to radon can significantly increase the risk of lung cancer in a dose-response manner.

• KIEAE Journal
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• 제1권2호
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• pp.21-28
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• 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 Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제40권3호
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• pp.155-161
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• 2015

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas and a major indoor contribution of exposure to ionizing radiation in dwellings. $^{222}Rn$ is a health hazard gas what is responsible for thousand lung cancer deaths every year. In this study, indoor radon concentrations present in thirty representative houses in Mahallat city, Iran, were determined in order to estimate lung cancer risk associated with residential radon exposure. Long-term passive method, using CR-39, was used to measure the radon concentration. The results showed an association between the age of the dwellings and the indoor radon concentration that was found, in that the concentration of radon tended to increase as the age of the dwelling also increased. The indoor radon concentrations were calculated to be within the range of $23{\pm}2$ to $350{\pm}26Bq{\cdot}m^{-3}$, with an average of $158Bq{\cdot}m^{-3}$. The annual effective dose from inhaled radon and its decay products was calculated between $0.8{\pm}0.1$ and $12.3{\pm}0.9mSv{\cdot}y^{-1}$, with an average of $5.5mSv{\cdot}y^{-1}$. By taking into consideration the EPA recommendation and ICRP statement, the average annual risk of lung cancer from inhaled radon was calculated as 0.09%, 0.06%, 0.01%, and 0.03% for current smokers (CS), those who had ever smoked (ES), never smokers (NS) and the general population, respectively.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.38-45
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• 2017

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.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제47권5호
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• pp.425-431
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• 2021

Background: This study evaluated the radon contribution rate through an evaluation of the exhalation rate of radon from building materials. Objectives: This study compared and evaluated the computation of the radon contribution rate based on each different exhalation rate in a building. Methods: The six demonstration houses that are the subject of this study are wall structures or Rahmen structures, and include demonstration houses similar to general residential environments and non-finishing houses with some walls exposed. Results: The highest exhalation rate was found at 62.98 Bq/m² per day from the non-finishing floor, and the second highest exhalation rate was from stone materials at 58.76 Bq/m² per day. Based on this result, investigating the contribution rate of building materials derived from building materials among indoor radon concentrations, house three was the highest at 81.7%, and house one was confirmed to be 33.96%. Conclusions: It can be judged that the effect of exposed concrete and stone is high, and that it is possible to reduce radon emitted from indoor building structures by controlling the indoor materials.

• Journal of health informatics and statistics
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• 제42권4호
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• pp.309-316
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• 2017

라돈 및 그 자손은 폐암을 일으키는 환경적 위험인자로, 일상 활동 및 수면 등으로 많은 시간을 보내는 실내 라돈 농도 관리는 필수적이다. 이를 위해서는, 주거지를 둘러싼 개인적, 사회적, 환경적 요소에 대한 총체적 접근이 필요하다. 따라서 본 연구는 실내 라돈 농도에 영향을 미치는 다양한 인자를 찾아내고, 이를 활용한 포괄적 모델을 구축하고자 한다. 건축 자재 및 생활 양식을 포함한 주거 환경에 대한 자료를 얻기 위해 설문을 실시하였고, 의사결정트리 및 구조 방정식 모델링을 활용하였다. 그 결과 주거지 주변 녹지 비율, 불 투과성 층 비율, 주택과 지면의 맞닿은 상태, 매일 환기 습관, 난방 습관, 측정 장치 주위의 균열 및 침실여부는 실내 라돈 농도와 유의한 연관성을 보였다. 매일 환기 습관을 가질 경우 실내 라돈 농도가 $200Bq/m^3$ 이상인 비율이 11.6%로 줄었다. 한편 매일 환기습관이 없는 주거자의 주거지 주변 녹지 비율이 65% 이상이면 매일 환기 습관이 있는 주거자와 비교하여 15.3%의 비율이 증가하였다. 구축된 포괄적 모델의 실내 라돈 농도에 직접 영향을 미치는 인자는 주거지 주변 녹지 비율과 환기율이었다. 제시된 모델로 국내 라돈 농도에 대한 개인의 지리적 특성, 지하수 및 생활 양식 요소의 결합된 영향을 확인할 수 있었다.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제47권4호
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• pp.330-338
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• 2021

Background: This study was conducted to provide background information for the proper management of radon contamination in apartments using mechanical ventilation facilities in residential environments. Objectives: To this end, this study compared and evaluated changes in radon concentrations based on different operating intensities of mechanical ventilation with or without natural ventilation. Methods: For the continuous measurement of radon concentrations, an RAD7 instrument was installed in four apartments equipped with a ventilation system. The measurements were done for comparison of ventilation types and different ventilation intensities ("high", "middle", "low"). Results: The results confirmed that both mechanical and natural ventilation sufficiently reduced the radon concentration in the apartments. In particular, mechanical ventilation at "high" intensity was the most effective. Natural ventilation combined with mechanical ventilation and then natural ventilation alone were the second and the third most effective, respectively. Conclusions: When using ventilation to reduce indoor radon concentrations, it is most effective to operate mechanical ventilation ("high") or natural ventilation and mechanical ventilation at the same time. In cases where mechanical ventilation is available alone, it is recommended to operate it at a minimum of "middle" intensity.

• Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.234-240
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• 2017

Background: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, for which smoking is considered as the primary risk factor. The present study was conducted to determine whether genetic alterations induced by radon exposure are associated with the susceptible risk of lung cancer in never smokers. Methods: To accurately identify mutations within individual tumors, next generation sequencing was conduct for 19 pairs of lung cancer tissue. The associations of germline and somatic variations with radon exposure were visualized using OncoPrint and heatmap graphs. Bioinformatic analysis was performed using various tools. Results: Alterations in several genes were implicated in lung cancer resulting from exposure to radon indoors, namely those in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), tumor protein p53 (TP53), NK2 homeobox 1 (NKX2.1), phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 7 (CHD7), discoidin domain receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (DDR2), lysine methyltransferase 2C (MLL3), chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 5 (CHD5), FAT atypical cadherin 1 (FAT1), and dual specificity phosphatase 27 (putative) (DUSP27). Conclusions: While these genes might regulate the carcinogenic pathways of radioactivity, further analysis is needed to determine whether the genes are indeed completely responsible for causing lung cancer in never smokers exposed to residential radon.

• 한국원자력학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국원자력학회 2002년도 추계학술발표회요약집
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• pp.361-361
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• 2002