Indoor Radon Concentration Survey in Bank Basements in Three Nigerian Cities

Abstract

Basement workplaces are considered as confined environment with challenging indoor air quality having higher than normal pollutants particularly that of soil gas origin. Radon a major soil gas infiltrates and accumulates within indoor spaces and becomes harmful in the absence of natural or mechanical ventilation. Radon level in bank basements in Ilorin, Lagos and Akure have been sampled and analysed in this study. The paper presents the investigations conducted to measure the radon concentration in the occupied basement component of the bank buildings. Most workers in basements are unaware of radon, and there is limited documented research on its health hazards in Nigeria. The survey parameters were radon concentrations, floor levels, geographical locations and the influence of atmospheric conditions. Corentium monitor, a continuous, digital radon monitor, in addition to, temperature meters and Prologue wireless weather station were used for the experiment. The result showed an indoor radon concentration and effective doses annual mean values of 23 Bq/m3 and 0.0896mSy/y respectively in the occupied basements.

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“…Adegun, et al [48] research has similarly shown that basement workplace are cramped areas with poor indoor air quality, particularly when it comes to toxins with a soil gas origin. Radon a has similarly shown that basement workplaces are cramped areas with poor indoor air quality, especially when it comes to toxins with a soil gas origin.…”