• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.245-255
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• 2020

Objective: The present study analyzed domestic and overseas academic journals to understand the research status and characteristics of radon concentration distribution in Korea in accordance with environmental conditions. Methods: As part of the meta-analysis, pooled average concentration was calculated using an inverse variance-weighted average of the arithmetic means and standard deviations among the investigated values. Using the obtained pooled average concentration, a Monte-Carlo simulation was performed to increase the reliability of the occurrence possibility of the calculated concentration distribution. A total of 38 research articles were selected, including 27 articles published in domestic academic journals and 11 articles published in foreign academic journals. Results: The comparison results showed differences in radon concentration distribution in accordance with regional and topographical characteristics. Conclusion: Currently, even though research into radon is steadily picking up the pace in Korea much remains to be done. Additional research is thus needed to establish a baseline for radon emissions in Korea.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.1149-1153
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• 2014

Real-time monitoring of hourly atmospheric radon (Rn-222) concentration was performed throughout 2011 at Gosan station, Jeju Island, one of the least polluted regions in Korea, in order to characterize the background levels, and temporal variations on diurnal to seasonal time-scales. The annual mean radon concentration for 2011 was $2527{\pm}1356$ mBq $m^{-3}$, and the seasonal cycle was characterized by a broad winter maximum, and narrow summer minimum. Mean monthly radon concentrations, in descending order of magnitude, were Oct > Sep > Feb > Nov > Jan > Dec > Mar > Aug > Apr > Jun > May > Jul. The maximum monthly mean value (3595 mBq $m^{-3}$, October), exceeded the minimum value (1243 mBq $m^{-3}$, July), by almost a factor of three. Diurnal composite hourly concentrations increased throughout the night to reach their maximum (2956 mBq $m^{-3}$) at around 7 a.m., after which they decreased to their minimum value (2259 mBq $m^{-3}$) at around 3 p.m. Back trajectory analyses indicated that the highest radon events typically exhibited long-term continental fetch over Asia before arriving at Jeju. In contrast, low radon events were generally correlated with air mass fetch over the North Pacific Ocean. Radon concentrations typical of predominantly continental, and predominantly oceanic fetch, differed by a factor of 3.8.

• 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 Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.163-166
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• 2010

The effective dose of the Seoul subway staffs due to inhaled radon ($^{222}Rn$) in their workplace was investigated depended on radon concentration exposed at each workplace, and working hours and working types of the staffs. Annual average radon concentrations ranged from 16.5 to 93.0 $Bq{\cdot}m^{-3}$. The staffs commonly spend 2,304 hours in the underground spaces a year. With the radon concentrations and the working hours of the staffs, estimated annual effective doses ranged from 0.23 to 0.73 $mSv{\cdot}y^{-1}$.

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.529-530
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• 2003

우라늄(U-238)의 붕괴과정에서 생성되는 라돈(Rn-222)은 다른 물질과 화학적으로 결합 또는 부착하지 않는 불활성 기체이고 상대적으로 긴 반감기를 갖고 있기 때문에 충분한 시간 동안 공기중에 머물러 있으므로 다른 자연방사선원에 비하여 라돈과 라돈자손에 의한 일반인의 자연방사선피폭 기여도가 가장 높다(Jamil K. 1997). 이미 세계 여러 나라에서는 라돈피폭에 기인한 건강상의 위해를 인식하여 주택을 비롯한 여러 생활공간의 실내 및 음용수 중의 라돈농도에 대한 대규모적인 측정을 수행하고 있으며, 그 결과 미국 내 상당수의 주택이 미국 환경청에서 권고치(action level)로써 권고하고 있는 150 Bq/m3(실내공기중)와 11.100 Bq/m3(음용수중)응 초과하는 것으로 나타났다(U,S,EPA, 1992).(중략)

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.425-430
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• 1998

The results of radon $(^{222}Rn)$ concentrations and working levels (WL) for forty rooms in Kwanak Campus, Seoul National University on granite bedrock of Jurassic age showed that radon concentration have mean value of 3.0 pCi/L and 0.011 for working level. A number of rooms where these values exceed the EPA's action level are five (13%). It was also suggested that indoor basement rooms in poor ventilation condition can be classified as extremely high radon risk zone having more than 4 pCi/L and 0.020 WL. It was proved that inflow of soil-gas was a primary factor that governs indoor radon level by comparison of soil-gas radon concentrations with indoor radon concentrations.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2017.11a
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• pp.92-93
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• 2017

Recently, there has been an increasing interest in natural radioactive gas radon(Rn-222), the problem of indoor air quality pollution to worldwide. It has been scientifically proven to be hazardous to various diseases such as lung cancer and skin cancer if the human body is exposed to long-term accumulation of atomic nuclei due to the destruction of radon and alpha lines. Based on the indoor air quality control policy, this study is a basic experiment in the manufacture of a selective elimination function to containing radon adsorption and reduction of radon concentration, which is used to absorb radioactive isotopes such as phosphorus and radon in indoor environment.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.10-17
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• 1989

A study for the assessment of dose given by outdoor radon to respiratory system has been carried out by making use of radon-cups containing CR-39 plastic track detectors. Detection efficiencies were determined by irradiation of the radon-cups in a standard radon chamber of known concentration. Thus determined detection factors of CR-39 plastic track detector in bare, open cup and filtered cup geometry are found to be 0.273, 0.0813 and 0.0371 $trmm^{-2}$/(37$Bqm^{-3}{\cdot}d$), respectively, which are chemically etched in 30% NaOH solution of $70^{\circ}C$ for 220 minutes. The outdoor radon concentrations measured at Taejeon(Chungnam National University) from May 1988 to March 1989 are in the range of 27.4 - 135.8 Bq/$m^3$(0.74 - 3.67pCi/l)by open cup and 16.7 - 143.9 Bq/$m^3$(0.45 - 3.89 pCi/l) by filtered cup, which yield overall annual average value of outdoor radon concentration of $70.8Bq/m^3$(1.91 pCi/l). Corresponding effective dose equivalent rate to respiratory system of ICRP standard man is assessed to be 520 nSv /h.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.178-185
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• 2013

We measured salinity and $^{222}Rn$ concentration to explore submarine spring along the coastal areas (Mundongri, Icheon-ri, Jukseong-ri, Daebyeon-ri, Yeonhwa-ri, and Dadae-po) including Ilkwang Bay of Busan Metropolitan City in 2009 and 2010. Before field observation, we selected the potential and possible locations of submarine spring based on the lineament distribution and rose diagram analysis. Salinity and radon concentration were measured within the 1~2 km from the coastal lines. Radon activity decreased gradually from onshore to offshore. Vertical profiles of salinity at some stations showed lateral transport of water mass characterized by low salinity. Vertical profiles of salinity in the Ilkwang Bay, which is a unique bay in the south-eastern coastal area of Busan Metropolitan City, also showed the occurrence of low salinity in the bottom seawater. Our results suggest the possible occurrence of submarine discharge of fresh groundwater in the coastal areas around Busan Metropolitan City. In the future, intensive research should be conducted for the exploration methods of submarine spring as well for the possible utility of submarine groundwater as alternative water resources.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.149-158
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• 2012

In this paper, we measured the variations of radon concentrations in groundwater using low-level Liquid Scintillation Counter (LSC), an instrument for analyzing the alpha and beta radionuclides at its 10 sites around the Kumjung-Gu, north-western of Busan. Optimization of Pulse Shape Analyzer (PSA) to determinate the highest value of figure of merit (FM) was decided using Quantulus 1200 LSC with radium-226 source, the optimal PSA level was shown in the range of 100 to 110. The results show that the Minimum Detectable Activity (MDA) of radon concentrations is 0.61 $Bq{\cdot}L^{-1}$ for 20 minutes in PSA level. We find that the average radon concentration in groundwater is high in granitic rock area and low in volcanic rock area. (Biotite granite : 191.39 $Bq{\cdot}L^{-1}$, Micro graphic granite : 141.88 $Bq{\cdot}L^{-1}$, Adamellite : 92.94 $Bq{\cdot}L^{-1}$, Andesite (volcanic) : 35.35 $Bq{\cdot}L^{-1}$). No significant seasonal variation pattern is observed from the long-term variation analysis from 10 selected sites. We have not seen the significant correlation of radon concentration to groundwater temperature, atmospheric temperature, atmospheric pressure and rainfall. The concentration variation is probably caused by more complex factors and processes.