Exposure of the Population to Radon Daughters - Problems Associated with the Assessment of the Annual Dose

Wicke, Andreas

doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.rpd.a083023

Cited by 9 publications

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“…This distribution is not surprising because the random multiplicative combination of the many independent factors influencing the 222Rn entry in dwellings tends to yield a log-normal distribution of the measured values. Recent evidence suggests that the Rn daughter equilibrium factor of 0.485 for indoor air used in this conversion may overestimate exposure by as much as 40% (Keller et al 1982;Wicke 1984). The main reasons for this are that the majority of the population lives in the basin north of the Alps where the Rn concentrations are moderate and that dwellings situated in the alpine areas produce a tendency to overestimate the mean value.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Indoor Rn Levels in Different Geological Areas in Switzerland

Crameri¹,

Hh²,

Buchli³

et al. 1989

Health Physics

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The distribution of indoor Rn concentrations in different geological areas in Switzerland was studied using passive alpha-track detectors. Measurements involving a sample of 400 single-family homes were made in the cellar, on the ground floor and the first floor, respectively. On the basis of a pilot survey, the country was divided into four zones in which the Rn distribution in houses was analyzed separately. The indoor exposure to Rn and Rn decay products is quite variable from region to region. The geology of the different areas was found to be an important factor in determining the mean value Rn levels. In the basin north of the Alps, where the population centers are located, a median Rn gas level of 47 Bq m-3 for the living area was found. The arithmetic mean value of 60 Bq m-3 in this region leads to an annual effective dose equivalent of about 1.8 mSv. For the population living in alpine areas, an arithmetic mean value exceeding 200 Bq m-3 will lead to an annual effective dose equivalent in the range of 6 mSv. The estimated exposure to Rn and Rn decay products for the upper one-percentile of the homes in the most affected alpine region even exceeds the annual limit of 50 mSv effective dose equivalent for occupational exposure.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%