Indoor radon: An overview on a perennial problem

Pacheco-Torgal, F.

doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2012.08.004

Cited by 47 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Radon gas is known as the most important natural source of ionizing radiation and it is responsible for approximately 40% of the annual effective dose from all sources of radiation [13,14]. Epidemiological and toxicological studies have shown that long term exposure to radon increases the risk of lung cancer [15][16][17][18][19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of indoor-generated airborne particles on radon progeny dynamics

Trassierra

Stabile

Cardellini

et al. 2016

Journal of Hazardous Materials

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In order to investigate the interaction between radon progeny and particles, an experimental campaign was carried out in a radon chamber at the Italian National Institute of Ionizing Radiation Metrology, quantifying the amount of attached and unattached radon daughters present in air, as well as the equilibrium factor in the presence of particles generated through indoor sources. A fixed radon concentration was maintained, while particles were generated using incense sticks, mosquito coils and gas combustion. Aerosols were characterized in terms of particle concentrations and size distributions. Simultaneously, radon concentration and attached/unattached potential alpha energy concentration in the air were continuously monitored by two different devices, based on alpha spectroscopy techniques. The presence of particles was found to affect the attached fraction of radon decay products, in such a way that the particles acted as a sink for radionuclides. In terms of sources which emit large particles (e.g. incense, mosquito coils), which greatly increase particle surface area concentrations, the Equilibrium Factor was found to double with respect to the background level before particle generation sessions. On the contrary, the radon decay product dynamics were not influenced by gas combustion processes, mainly due to the small surface area of the particles emitted.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of indoor-generated airborne particles on radon progeny dynamics

Trassierra

Stabile

Cardellini

et al. 2016

Journal of Hazardous Materials

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“…Radon ( 222 Rn) is a colorless and odorless radioactive gas that has been strongly linked to deleterious human health outcomes, specifically lung cancer [1][2][3][4]. It is the most important source of ionizing radiation among those that are of natural origin, as it constitutes the second cause of death by lung cancer after tobacco [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radon Investigation in 650 Energy Efficient Dwellings in Western Switzerland: Impact of Energy Renovation and Building Characteristics

et al. 2019

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As part of more stringent energy targets in Switzerland, we witness the appearance of new green-certified dwellings while many existing dwellings have undergone energy efficiency measures. These measures have led to reduced energy consumption, but rarely consider their impact on indoor air quality. Consequently, such energy renovation actions can lead to an accumulation of radon in dwellings located in radon-prone areas at doses that can affect human health. This study compared the radon levels over 650 energy-efficient dwellings in western Switzerland between green-certified (Minergie) and energy-renovated dwellings, and analyzed the building characteristics responsible of this accumulation. We found that the newly green-certified dwellings had significantly lower radon level than energy-renovated, which were green- and non-green-certified houses (geometric mean 52, 87, and 105 Bq/m3, respectively). The new dwellings with integrated mechanical ventilation exhibited lower radon concentrations. Thermal retrofitting of windows, roofs, exterior walls, and floors were associated with a higher radon level. Compared to radon measurements prior to energy renovation, we found a 20% increase in radon levels. The results highlight the need to consider indoor air quality when addressing energy savings to avoid compromising occupants’ health, and are useful for enhancing the ventilation design and energy renovation procedures in dwellings.

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“…The soil and building materials are the main sources of indoor radon [4,7,8], a natural radioactive gas that accumulates within buildings and consequently, is inhaled by their occupants [9,10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of pore structure and moisture content on gas diffusion and permeability in porous building stones

Benavente

Pla

2018

Mater Struct

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Hazardous gases in buildings are a concern for public health and security. These gases can be released from the building materials to indoor air and their concentration may become critical where ventilation is hindered, as such in hypogean or more energetically efficient airtight constructions. Furthermore, the gas ventilation and the indoor gas concentration can considerably increase by the vapour condensation on the ceiling and walls of buildings. In this paper, we characterise the CO 2 gas diffusion for a representative range of building porous stones with the aim of establishing the effect of the water content in the gaseous diffusion coefficient.We propose a new methodology to measure gas diffusion with a laboratory device that works under different hygrometric conditions. Results reveal water pore condensation reduces both connected porosity and pore size and therefore, the CO 2 diffusion coefficient. This variation occurs in all the studied porous building stones although it is especially important in stones with small pores. Thus, the reduction of CO 2 diffusion coefficient for the stone with thinnest pores is by 50% when relative humidity varies from 20 to 90%.Permeability and gas diffusion coefficients present similar trends. Porous stones with larger pores and higher porosity values present the highest CO 2 diffusion, water and gas permeability coefficients. Pore size is the conclusive parameter within the transport coefficients. It greatly affects both the tortuosity factor of the CO 2 gaseous diffusion and the slip parameter of the Klinkenberg's model for gas permeability coefficient. Finally, for studied samples, we establish a power regression, which correlates thoroughly both coefficients.

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Indoor radon: An overview on a perennial problem

Cited by 47 publications

References 52 publications

Effect of indoor-generated airborne particles on radon progeny dynamics

Effect of indoor-generated airborne particles on radon progeny dynamics

Radon Investigation in 650 Energy Efficient Dwellings in Western Switzerland: Impact of Energy Renovation and Building Characteristics

Effect of pore structure and moisture content on gas diffusion and permeability in porous building stones

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