Assessment of Seasonal Radon Concentration in Dwellings and Soils in Selected Areas in Ga East, Greater Accra Region of Ghana

Abstract

Seasonal radon levels have been studied in dwellings and soils in selected areas in Ga East, Greater Accra Region of Ghana using LR-115-type II (SSNTDs). This study was conducted to determine the seasonal correlation between soil and dwelling radon concentrations. Detectors were exposed from January to March and April to June, for dry and wet seasons, respectively. Overall, indoor radon was 133.4 ± 6.7 Bqm−3 and 72.1 ± 3.6 Bqm −3 for wet and dry seasons. The estimated annual effective dose to the lung received by the occupants at Paraku Estate, Dome, and Kwabenya was 6.9 ± 0.4, 7.2 ± 0.5, and 9.8 ± 0.8 mSvy−1 for the wet season and 3.8 ± 0.2, 4.3 ± 0.2, and 4.6 ± 0.3 mSvy−1 for the dry season. On average, the soil radon concentration was found to be 0.96 ± 0.07 kBqm−3 and 2.24 ± 0.01 kBqm−3 for wet and dry seasons. To determine the correlation between soil and dwelling radon, a positive Pearson correlation coefficient value R = (0.74) and R = (0.66) was obtained representing the dry and wet seasons. To test the statistical significance between soil and dwelling radon, P < 0.05 was obtained, indicating a statically significant relationship between the two.

Assessment of indoor radon distribution and seasonal variation within the Kpando Municipality of Volta Region, Ghana

“…This leads to poorly ventilated rooms and the buildup of radon concentration from construction materials and soil beneath the dwellings, which may explain the higher radon concentrations recorded within R S . These findings are consistent with some studies conducted in Ghana [ 8 , 11 , 13 ]. The higher values during Rs may also be caused by the surrounding soil being wet during rains, which pushes radon particles to emanate through the soil beneath the dwellings, thereby increasing the radon gas concentrations in the rooms.…”

“…Several studies have been conducted on the seasonal variability of indoor radon concentration levels [ 7 , 8 , 11 , 13 – 15 ]. Studies conducted globally to determine indoor radon concentration during winter (rainy season) and summer (dry season) [ 8 , 11 , 13 , 15 – 17 ] weather seasons aim to find out which seasonal period contains higher indoor radon levels. The studies conducted in Ghana and abroad reported higher indoor radon levels during the rainy (winter) season which were mainly linked to the windows and doors normally closed due to the rains and little bit colder compared to the dry (summer) season, resulting in an accumulation of radon in the room coming from the soil underneath the building and construction materials [ 7 , 8 , 11 , 17 , 13 ].…”

“…Radon concentration levels in dwellings were found to differ from location to location, building to building as a result of the geology, and seasonal factors such as atmospheric pressure, humidity, temperature, building structure, age, and construction materials [7][8][9][10][11][12]. Several studies have been conducted on the seasonal variability of indoor radon concentration levels [7,8,11,[13][14][15]. Studies conducted globally to determine indoor radon concentration during winter (rainy season) and summer (dry season) [8,11,13,[15][16][17] weather seasons aim to find out which seasonal period contains higher indoor radon levels.…”

“…There has been a lot of literature on seasonal indoor radon studies, correction factors, and radon mapping [8,11,[13][14][15][18][19][20][21]. In Ghana, there have been a lot of studies that reported indoor radon levels [8,9,11,[22][23][24][25][26].…”

“…In Ghana, there have been a lot of studies that reported indoor radon levels [8,9,11,[22][23][24][25][26]. Most of the reported indoor radon studies were conducted over relatively short periods [9,[22][23][24][25][26] with few studies having seasonal radon data [8,11,13]. Previous radon studies conducted in the study region have primarily focused on indoor radon levels in some dwellings, and there are no known studies that have determined radon levels in dwellings within the study location itself.…”