• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.53 no.11
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• pp.99-106
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• 2016

When radon is staying at alveoli and bronchial tubes, the collapse of radon creates progeny nuclides (alpha ray, beta ray, gamma ray, etc.). They emit radiation causing a mutation in the chromosome of the cell, resulting in lung cancer. In other words, the main cause of lung cancer is radiation emitting as the result of radon collapse rather than radon gas. The 82% of radiation exposed to people is the natural radiation. Most of the natural radiation is radon. If we properly control the concentration of radon indoors, the probability of occurrence of lung cancer could be decreases to be 70%. Until now, to measure the indoor radon concentration, imported radon sensors are needed. So, DB construction of indoor radon emission and popular radon measuring apparatus should be developed. In this paper, we propose the radon detecting method using PIN photodiode. Also, we confirmed the PIN photodiode could be used as radon sensor module through some experimental studies.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.138-143
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• 2013

Objective: Building materials can generate radon in indoor environments. This study aims to assess the radon concentrations of studio apartments around a university. Methods: 25 studio apartments around a University in Gyoungsan, Korea were measured for concentrations of radon. We evaluated the radon concentrations by using short-term continuous radon monitors at the studio apartments around the university, and analyzed the correlation between indoor radon concentration and factors affecting it, such as year of construction. Results: The average concentration of radon was 2.03 pCi/L(75.11 $Bq/m^3$)${\pm}1.34$ in the studio apartments. This radon level was lower than the radon standard for public use facilities in Korea and US EPA's standard of 4 pCi/L. However the measured radon levels were much higher than those previously reported in conventional dwellings. There was a statistically correlation between year of construction and radon concentrations in studio apartment buildings. Conclusion: It is suggested that recently built studio apartments might be constructed with phosphogypsum board that features higher radon emissions, and occupants are highly exposed to radon.

• Journal of health informatics and statistics
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.309-316
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• 2017

Objectives: Radon and its progeny pose environmental risks as a carcinogen, especially to the lungs. Investigating factors affecting indoor radon concentrations and models thereof are needed to prevent exposure to radon and to reduce indoor radon concentrations. The purpose of this study was to identify factors affecting indoor radon concentration and to construct a comprehensive model thereof. Methods: Questionnaires were administered to obtain data on residential environments, including building materials and life style. Decision tree and structural equation modeling were applied to predict residences at risk for higher radon concentrations and to develop the comprehensive model. Results: Greenery ratio, impermeable layer ratio, residence at ground level, daily ventilation, long-term heating, crack around the measuring device, and bedroom were significantly shown to be predictive factors of higher indoor radon concentrations. Daily ventilation reduced the probability of homes having indoor radon concentrations ${\geq}200Bq/m^3$ by 11.6%. Meanwhile, a greenery ratio ${\geq}65%$ without daily ventilation increased this probability by 15.3% compared to daily ventilation. The constructed model indicated greenery ratio and ventilation rate directly affecting indoor radon concentrations. Conclusions: Our model highlights the combined influences of geographical properties, groundwater, and lifestyle factors of an individual resident on indoor radon concentrations in Korea.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2019.11a
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• pp.160-161
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• 2019

Recently, a bed company's product has detected a certain level of radon or higher, making it a popular search word on portal sites. Because of this problem, people are becoming more interested in radon. The government plans to support the establishment of a radon alert system for households through a radon concentration survey of 10,000 households. The use of palm charcoal as an indoor finishing material will reduce the risk of lung cancer through radon reduction. The experiment used a method of replacing palm activated carbon with blast furnace slag, and the adsorption performance of radon tends to increase as the replacement rate of palm activated carbon increases.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.62-67
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• 2000

Modern people stay at indoor places about 90% of a day. Radon-222 is a gas produced by the radioactive decay of the element radium. And, radon is one of the major indoor air pollutants. Radon moves into the underground space through various routes and is considered to cause lung cancer by hurting the lung tissues. In this study, we measured the subway radon level at 9 stations of 3 lines. According to test results, we can figure out the concentration of radon by lines, times, and measuring points. So, it was found that ventilation conditions are the most important factors in the subway air quality. Finally, we suggested effective and economic management methods of air pollution in the subway.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.271-277
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• 1993

Indoor radon has been known as one of the notorious carcinogens. However, a safe environmental criterion of radon has not yet been established in Korea, The main objectives of this study were to study concentration distributions of radon, to trace radon sources in subways, and to obtain a strategy for radon reduction in Seoul metropolitan area. Radon concentrations had been extensively determined by several steps. The first step was to survey radon levels in all of 83 subway stations from October to November in 1991. The second step was to select 40 out of 83 stations and then to study seasonal variations in 1991 and 1992. The third step was to monitor radon levels by hourly-basis plans. The fourth step was to seek a radon reduction strategy by altering ventilation at Ankuk station where had the highest radon concentration during the first measurement step. Each underground floor in the station was divided into 10 sites to measure hourly radon variations. The final step of the study was to measure radon concentrations in groundwater that is one of the possible main sources radon place. The result of the various measuring approaches showed short-and long-term radon variation and indicated radon reduction schemes.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.37-51
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• 1993

A standard radon chamber and a radon generator adjusted by ventilation system which had used in this research were assumed to calculate theoretically the concentration of radon progeny using Jacobi model theory. On the one hand, the filter sampled from the radon standard chamber and the radon generator was measured and analysed by the alpha spectrometry method. It is clear that measured result shows a good agreement with theoretical result. Therefore, it is observed that this research can made a great contribution to more accurate internal dose assessment by alpha emission of radon progeny in indoor radon environment, and fast individual measurement and determination of concentration for radon progeny.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2001.05a
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• pp.139-146
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• 2001

Modern people stay at indoor places about 90% of a day. Radon-222 is a gas produced radioactive decay of the element radium. And, radon is one of the major indoor air pollutants moves into the underground space through various routes and is considered to cause lung c hurting the lung tissues, In this study, we measured the subway radon level at 9 stations o According to test results, we can figure out the concentration of radon by lines, times, and m points. So, it was found that ventilation conditions are the most important factors in the su quality. Finally, we suggested effective and economic management methods of air pollution subway.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.501-503
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• 2003

Soil-gas radon level and other atmospheric factors have been measured at residual soil profiles that overlie granite bedrock which consists of major geology in Korea for 6 months from November, 2000 to April, 2001. Seasonal variations of soil-gas radon concentration are generally of greater magnitude than day-to-day fluctuations. The highest radon concentrations of 5,131 pCi/L measured during winter season and the lowest radon concentrations of 107 pCi/L during spring season. Two study areas, Bongcheon-dong(granite bedrock) and Seongnam-Yongin(gneiss bedrock) were investigated to assess the radon potential according to their field survey and emanation tests. The mean values of radon decrease in sequentially from Suji-A(813 pCi/L)>Suji-B(757 pCi/L)>Bundang-B(691 pCi/L)>Bundang-A(643 pCi/L)>Bongcheon-dong(513 pCi/L). Estimated soil-gas radon potential using maximum radon emanation ratios of each study area decreases in the order of Bongcheondong(950 pCi/L)>Suji-B(524 pCi/L)>Bundang-A(437 pCi/)>Bundang-B(259 pCi/L)>Suji-A(230 pCi/L) areas. The values of indoor radon and its daughter product concentrations in Bongcheon-dong area show that indoor basement rooms in poor ventilation condition could be classified as extremely high radon risk location of more than 4 pCi/L Rn and 0.02 WL.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.397-412
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• 1996

This study aims to present the fundamental strategies to improve the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in apartment buildings. To investigate the concentration of indoor air pollutants such as radon, formaldehyde, and VOCs, both the document survey and the field measurement were conducted. In addition, to identify the source of the air pollutants, the laboratory experiment was carried out for various building materials. Finally, the minimum period to be reserved befor3e building occupation to ensure healthy IAQ, which largely depends on the ventilation rates, was simulated using a simple compuer program. The results of this study can be summarized as follows: 1. In case of newly-constructed apartment houses, concentrations of formaldehyde, VOCs and radon were found to exceed the standard. Meanwhile, at existing apartment houses, concentrations of VOCs, particularly toluene and xylene, highly exceeded the standasrd level. Concentrations of formaldehyde and radon, however, had been lowered according to the duration of occupation. 2. The laboratory experiment of concentration of pollutants per square meter of building material surface area showed that radon gas was much emitted from the gypsumboard; formaldehyde from flooring and wallpaper; and VOCs from paints and kitchen furnishings. The emission rates of formaldehyde and VOCs were proportional to air temperature. 3. According to the simulation of the minimum period to be reserved before occupation, newly-constructed airtight houses required about 190-200 days, and naturally ventialted houses with fully-open-windows required about 20-45days, in order to keep the level of radon gas lower than standard. Therefore, with the current practice, the date of occupation should be delayed for about 15 days.