• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.588-595
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• 2006

Indoor radon($^{222}Rn$) concentrations of subway stations in Seoul area were measured to survey the environmental indoor radon levels and to identify sources of radon. The radon concentration of indoor air by method of long-term measuring with a-track detector were surveyed at 232 subway stations from 1998 to 2004. And the radon concentration in ground-water was measured with a method of alpha particle counting. To trace main source of radon, 8 out of 232 stations were selected and their radon concentrations in tunnel and on platform were analyzed. Total geometric mean and arithmetic mean of radon concentrations in all stations from 1998 to 2004 were $1.40{\pm}1.94pCi/L,\;1.65{\pm}1.07$ respectively. Geometric means of radon concentrations on platform and concourse were $1.54{\pm}1.96pCi/L,\;1.23{\pm}1.88pCi/L$ respectively, with higher concentration at the platform than at the concourse. The geological structure was significantly correlated to the indoor radon concentration in subway stations region. Radon concentrations of adjacent tunnel and ground-water of subway station was significantly correlated to the indoor radon concentration in subway stations. And There was a significant difference in radon concentration, depending on the depth levels in platform of subway stations(p<0.05).

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.308-311
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• 2005

[ $^{222}Rn\;and\;^{226}Ra$ ] in groundwater were determined simultaneously using a gamma-spectroscopy. A nitrogen flushing equipment has been used for elimination and stabilization of high and unstable background activity due to the radon and its progenies in counting shield and room. The aim of present work was to control the background activity for simultaneous measurement of radium$(^{226}Ra)$ and radon$(^{222}Rn)$ in groundwater using a gamma-spectrometry. Background activity was about 1.0dps and the standard deviation was about 50%, The background activity could be minimized using nitrogen flushing equipment in the range of 0.1 to 0.5 and the RSD was about 5% at the experimental condition. The detection limit of $^{222}Rn\;and\;^{226}Ra$ in groundwater was 0.5dps/L in the background control method. In most groundwater used in the work, radon activity was more than the detection limit. However, radium activity in some groundwater was less than the detection limit. If the low level radium in groundwater must be measured, preconcentration process such as concentration should be performed before measuring the groundwater.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.201-205
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• 2007

This paper reports the amount of $^{222}Rn$ and $^{238}U$ in 18 sites of ground water and 30 sites of surface water. The instrument used to count $^{222}Rn$ activity was the liquid scintillation counter (LSC) which could resolute ${\alpha}$ and ${\beta}$ radiations. And $^{238}U$ was analyzed by the inductively coupled plasma (ICP). Radon and Uranium were not detected in raw and treated water which were sampled in a water treatment plant. However, radon ($^{222}Rn$) was high concentration in ground water from Jeon-la, Gang-won. So was uranium ($^{238}U$) in case of ground water from Gang-won, Choong-chung. Radon ($^{222}Rn$) activities were detected less than 15 pCi/L at 5 sampling points, 15~300 pCi/L at 7 sampling points, 300~4000 pCi/L at 6 sampling points. However, Radon ($^{222}Rn$) activities of all ground water samples were less than 4,000 pCi/L, which was bellow American Alternative Maximum Contamination Level (AMCL). Uranium ($^{238}U$) concentrations were less than $0.1{\mu}g/L$ at 5 sampling points, from $0.1{\mu}g/L$ to $20{\mu}g/L$ at 13 sampling points. Uranium was not detected in about 30% of the whole samples, but the concentration ranged from relatively low to high concentrations depending on the sampling point. The minimum detectable activity (MDA) of radon was 15 pCi/L. and the detection limit of uranium was $0.1{\mu}g/L$.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.415-424
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• 1998

In order to investigate soil-gas $^{222}Rn$ concentrations, Kwanak Campus (Seoul National University), Boeun (Choong-buk) and Gapyung (Kyonggi) areas were selected and classified depending on their base rock types. Radon risk indices of these study areas decrease in the order of Gapyung>Kwanak Campus>Boeun areas, and in the order of rock type as banded gneiss>granite gneiss>granite>black slate-shale>mica schist>shale-lirnestone>phyllite-schist. Radon emanating trends with water content and grain size of soils were assessed by modified Morse 3 min. method. Radon emanation increases with the increase of water content in soils which is lower than 6~16 wt.%, and decreases in the range of higher than 6-16 wt. %. It shows that Rn emanation increases with the decrease of soil grain size. Radioactivity analysis of radionuclides of 238U series in some soil samples shows that radioactive disequilibrium state between $^{226}Ra$ and $^{238}U$ exists owing to different geochemical behavior of each radionuclide, and, it is necessary to carry out radioactive isotope geochemical approach for soil-gas $^{222}Rn$ study.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.114-121
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• 2017

Real-time monitoring of hourly concentrations of atmospheric Radon-222 ($^{222}Rn$, radon) and some gaseous pollutants ($SO_2$, CO, $O_3$) was performed throughout 2013-2014 at Gosan station of Jeju Island, one of the cleanest regions in Korea, in order to characterize their background levels and temporal variation trend. The hourly mean concentrations of radon and three gaseous pollutants ($SO_2$, CO, $O_3$) over the study period were $2216{\pm}1100mBq/m^3$, $0.6{\pm}0.7ppb$, $211.6{\pm}102.0ppb$, and $43.0{\pm}17.0ppb$, respectively. The seasonal order of radon concentrations was as fall ($2644mBq/m^3$)$${\sim_\sim}$$winter ($2612mBq/m^3$)>spring ($2022mBq/m^3$)>summer ($1666mBq/m^3$). The concentrations of $SO_2$ and CO showed similar patterns with those of radon as high in winter and low in summer, whereas the $O_3$ concentrations had a bit different trend. Based on cluster analyses of air mass back trajectories, the air mass frequencies originating from Chinese continent, North Pacific Ocean, and the Korean Peninsula routes were 30, 18, and 52%, respectively. When the air masses were moved from Chinese continent to Jeju Island, the concentrations of radon and gaseous pollutants ($SO_2$, CO, $O_3$) were relatively high: $2584mBq/m^3$, 0.76 ppb, 225.8 ppb, and 46.4 ppb. On the other hand, when the air masses were moved from North Pacific Ocean, their concentrations were much low as $1282mBq/m^3$, 0.24 ppb, 166.1 ppb, and 32.5 ppb, respectively.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2012

The real-time monitoring of radon ($^{222}Rn$) concentrations has been carried out to evaluate the background concentration level of atmospheric radon in Gosan site, Jeju Island. The mean concentration of radon for the recent 10 years was 2831 $mBq/m^3$ (0.077 pCi/L), which was 19.5 time lower than that of indoor radon in Korea. The seasonal concentrations were 2657, 2071, 3249, 3384 $mBq/m^3$ respectively for spring, summer, fall, and winter seasons. In monthly comparison, the radon concentrations were high in October and low in July. The hourly concentrations have increased during the nighttime, showing 3666 $mBq/m^3$ at 7 a.m., and decreased relatively during the daytime, showing 2755 $mBq/m^3$ at 2~3 p.m. From the back trajectory analysis, the radon concentrations showed higher values when the air mass was moved from the Asia continent to Jeju area, on the other hand, it showed low values when it was moved from the North Pacific Ocean.

• 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 $mSv{\cdot}y^{-1}$.

• 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.

• 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.

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.1 no.2
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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.