Exposing the Raduet Rn-Tn solid-state nuclear track detectors, radon (Rn: (222)Rn) and thoron (Tn: (220)Rn) activity concentrations have been measured in 7 kindergartens and 18 elementary schools in Slovenia. Diurnal variations of both gases were monitored using a Rad7 device. The Rn concentration was in the range from 145 to 794 Bq m(-3) in kindergartens and from 70 to 770 Bq m(-3) in schools, and the Tn concentration was in the range from 21 to 73 Bq m(-3) in kindergartens and from 4 to 91 Bq m(-3) in schools. The Tn versus Rn concentration ratio varied from 0.02 to 0.83. Monthly effective doses due to radon and its decay products ranged from 109 to 600 μSv month(-1) in kindergartens and from 21 to 232 μSv month(-1) in schools, and those due to thoron and its decay products ranged from 3.8 to 13.3 μSv month(-1) in kindergartens and from 0.29 to 6.62 μSv month(-1) in schools. The contribution of thoron to the total effective dose was from 1.3 to 11 % in kindergartens and from 0.4 to 17 % in schools.

Abstract. An air cleaner was installed in a room with elevated radon activity concentration, and the following parameters have been monitored: activity concentrations of 222 Rn (Rn) and its short-lived products (RnP), degree of equilibrium between Rn and RnP (F), fraction of unattached RnP (fun), and the number concentration and size distribution of aerosol particles (5-530 nm). Several hours of filtration removed the >10 nm particles almost completely, thus increasing the contribution of the <10 nm particles, associated with unattached RnP. Consequently, fun was substantially augmented with a concomitant decrease in F.

At the lowest point along the tourist route in the Postojna Cave, the activity concentration of radon ((222)Rn) short-lived decay products and number concentration and size distribution of background aerosol particles in the size range of 10-1100 nm were measured. In the warm yearly season, aerosol concentration was low (52 cm(-3)) with 21 % particles smaller than 50 nm, while in the cold season, it was higher (1238 cm(-3)) with 8 % of <50 nm particles. Radon activity concentrations were 4489 and 1108 Bq m(-3), and fractions of unattached radon decay products were 0.62 and 0.13, respectively.

Abstract. At the lowest point along the tourist route in Postojna Cave, the activity concentration of radon (222Rn) decay products and the number concentration and size distribution of aerosol particles in the size range of 10–1100 nm were monitored, with the focus on the unattached fraction (fun) of radon decay products (RnDPs), a key parameter in radon dosimetry. The total number concentration of aerosols during visits in summer was lower (700 cm−3) than in winter (2800 cm−3), and was dominated by <50 nm particles (related to unattached RnDPs) in summer and by >50 nm particles (related to the attached RnDPs) in winter. This explains the higher fun values in summer (0.75) and the lower winter measurement (0.04) and, consequently, DCFD values of 43.6 and 13.1 mSv WLM−1 respectively for the calculated dose conversion factors. The difference is caused by an enhanced inflow of fresh outside air, driven in winter by the higher air temperature in the cave compared to outside, resulting in the introduction of outside aerosol particles into the cave.