Determination of Environmental Condition in Universitas Pelita Harapan Based on Radon Concentration Analysis

Abstract

Radon Gas is the largest contributor to the annual effective dose received by humans, which is colorless, tasteless, and invisible to the eye. This gas is harmful and can cause lung cancer. Thus, we try to study the average concentration level of Radon Gas in 20 workspace rooms in two different buildings located at the same altitude that mostly made of different building materials. First are HRD workspace rooms in building A that are mostly partitioned and enclose with cemented walls and glasses. Second are FaST workspace rooms that are partitioned and enclose with gypsum. All of the rooms are equipped with air conditioner and lack air circulation. The concentration of radon gas is measured by a passive radon dosimeter equipped with a CR-39 detector. The detectors are placed in those 20 workspace rooms of Pelita Harapan University for 3 months. Radon gas levels obtained ranged from 37.95 ± 2.68Bq/m3 to 91.07 ± 6.44Bq/m3 with an average value of 58.39 ± 4.13Bq/m3. In average, concentration of Radon gas in offices at FaST is 67.543±4.775Bq/m3, which higher than average concentration of Radon gas offices at HRD that is 49.244±3.741Bq/m3. The higher concentration of Radon gas that is 91.07 ± 6.44Bq/m3 is found in room named FaST 1, which have lack air circulation, enclose in 4 sides with gypsum, and packed with boxes. The lowest concentration of Radon gas that is 37.95±2.68Bq/m3 is found in room named FaST 7, which enclose in 4 sides with glasses and contains only several tables and chairs. Yet, the measured concentration of Radon gas is still below the threshold recommended by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which is 1000Bq/m3.