• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.55-59
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• 2001

This study was conducted to find out the radon concentration of indoor air on second floor of a building in Seoul, from January to December in 2000. The following results were achieved ; 1. The annual radon concentration of indoor air was $0.81{\pm}0.35\;pCi/L$ on the average. 2. The time of the highest radon concentration of indoor air was 9 : 00 AM. 3. The radon concentration of indoor air in the year 2000 compared with that in the year 1998 was increased.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.43-50
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• 2001

A daily newspaper in Korea addressed an controversial issue recently that the concentration of radon measured from the groundwater in Taejon was found out a relatively high level. The cancer risk arising from ingestion of such radon should be derived from calculation of the dose absorbed by the tissues at risk. The study performed by the National Research Council in United States confirmed that the use of a PBPK model for the ingested radon could provide the useful information regarding the distribution of radon among the organs of the body. This study presents an approach for the internal dose assessment of ingested radon for this case. At first, the study develops a PBPK model for ingested radon. However, the important issue is how to simulate a more realistic situation using the model associated with repeated oral doses rather than a single oral dose. The simulations are performed for repeated oral exposures per 8-hour interval using the PBPK model for a male adult. The concentration and cumulative value of radon concentration are calculated and analyzed for lung tissue and adipose group, respectively. The results could be used for the realistic prediction of the internal dose of radon in the human body for repeated oral exposures.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.94-98
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• 2005

This study was carried out to provide radon concentration and exposure in building. The average radon concentrations of building was measured 1.37 pCi/L in basement, 0.95 pCi/L in 1st layer, 0.74 pCi/L in 2nd layer, 0.56 pCi/L in 3rd layer, and 0.4 pCi/L in 4th layer, respectively. The average radon concentration of basement was measured the higher than any other stairs. Daily average distribution of radon concentrations in building shown that radon concentrations measured in morning at 8hr was the highest value. Monthly average distribution of radon concentrations shown 0.28 ${\pm}$ 0.17 pCi/L in April and 0.82 pCi/L in December that was the highest value. The average concentrations of radon was measured 0.38pCi/L in spring. 0.44 pCi/L in summer, 0.53 pCi/L in autumn, and 0.67 pCi/L in winter, respectively. This result shown that the average concentrations of radon in winter was the higher than any other seasons. That reasons was supposed that effect of number of exchanges and using air conditions was the higher in summer than winter.

• Radioisotope journal
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.55-65
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• 2006

A passive type radon monitor adopting two silicon PIN detector as radiation detector has been developed, manufactured and test-evaluated. A radiation signal processing circuit has been electronically tested and then the radiation detection characteristics of this instrument has been performance-tested by using reference radon concentration and a reference photon radiation field. As a result, in a electronic performance test, radiation signals from each detector were well observed in each signal processing circuit. The radiation detection sensitivity of this instrument after several test-irradiations to a Cs-137 gamma radiation source and a standard radon concentration appeared to be 1.37 cph/$\mu$Svh-1 and 1.66 pCi/L respectively. The developed radon monitor in this paper could be used conveniently in monitoring of radon concentration in buildings which population utilize in Korea.

• 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 Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.95-100
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• 2020

Background: Compared with reported data of radon concentration, data of radon progeny concentration is limited in general, especially in outdoor environment. Materials and Methods: To know both the level and the variation of radon progeny concentration in outdoor environment in Beijing area, one-year continuous measurement with a cycle of 60 minutes was carried out by a step-advanced filter (SAF) monitor for radon progeny measurement. The observation site was located in a park in Eastern Beijing area, and the observation period was from October 17, 2018 to September 29, 2019. Results and Discussion: The equivalent equilibrium concentration (EEC) of radon progeny varies from 0.7 to 19.1 Bq·m^-3, with an annual average of 4.9 ± 2.7 Bq·m^-3. A clear diurnal variation of EEC, higher in the early morning and lower in the late afternoon, is observed due to the high sensitivity of the SAF monitor. Conclusion: Vertical convection of atmospheric boundary layer is thought to be the main reason of this phenomenon. For annual variation, the lowest monthly average EEC appeared in April, while the highest appeared in November, which might attribute to the atmospheric stability in different seasons.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.658-667
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• 2019

Objective: This study was designed to compare construction types and seasonal radon concentrations in dwellings in Jeollabuk-do Province in Korea. Methods: The measurement of indoor radon concentrations in 79 dwellings using alpha-track detectors was performed every three months (seasonally) over one year between 2015 and 2016. Also, Radon concentrations in soil were measured in spring to investigate the correlations between the concentrations in soil and indoor air. Results: The annual average concentration of indoor radon for dwellings was 89.7±72.1(GM: 72.4) Bq/㎥, with a range (min-max) of 17.2 to 505.4 Bq/㎥. The highest indoor radon concentration was measured in winter and the lowest was shown in summer. The geometric mean of radon concentration in winter was 1.03-2.58 times higher than other seasons. Radon concentrations in soil were investigated at the depth of 1 m, and the concentrations ranged from 1,780 Bq/㎥ to 123,264 Bq/㎥. This showed low correlations with indoor radon concentrations.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.329-334
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• 2018

Radon which is natural component of air is a colorless and odorless radioactive gas. Radon exposure can also occur from some building materials if they are made from radon-containing substances by breathing. In this study, The radiation dose of radon concentration was detected at 8 buildings of the A university during 3-month from June. 2017 to August. 2017. We detected indoor radon exposure at 8 building of the university and estimated annual effective dose. The radon concentration of Hall G and Hall F of the A university represented 81 and $14Bq/m^3$ respectively and average indoor radon concentration represented $41.63Bq/m^3$. Average effective dose was estimated 0.40 mSv/y, maximum effective dose was 0.78 mSv/y and minimum effective dose was 0.13 mSv/y respectively. University is the place that students spend the almost whole time. We suggest ventilation and appropriate management of a building, which could reduce the natural radiation exposure by radon concentration.

• 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.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.51-54
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• 1996

This study was conducted to find out the indoor radon concentrations from Jan. 1, to Dec. 31, 1995 in Seoul, and the following results were achieved; 1. The average concentration of indoor radon ranged from $0.51pCi/\ell$ to $0.78pCi/\ell$. 2. The correlation coefficients(r) of radon concentration and indoor meteorological conditions were as follows; 1) temperature : r=0.11 2) atmospheric pressure : r= -0.01 3) humidity : r=0.227.