Indoor radon in dwellings of Jeddah city, Saudi Arabia and its correlations with the radium and radon exhalation rates from soil

Abstract

To assess the potential health risks associated with indoor radon, a study was carried out in 80 dwellings in Jeddah city, Saudi Arabia using CR-39 plastic track detectors. The annual average indoor radon concentrations varied from 21 to 52 Bq m−3, with a mean value of 36 Bq m−3, which is well below the recommended action level recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). The annual effective dose varied from 0.35 to 0.89 mSv y−1. The results showed no significant radiological risks for the inhabitants. The radium content, radon exhalation rate and the concentration of radon in soils samples were measured using the ‘Can Technique’. The radium concentrations in soil varied from 18.0 to 33.0 Bq kg−1. The radon exhalation rates in the samples varied from 4.58 to 8.40 Bq m−2 h−1 (135 to 251 mBq kg−1 h−1). There was a linear relationship between the indoor radon concentration and the radium concentration in the soil. A positive correlation was observed between the radon exhalation rate and soil radium concentration. Furthermore, changes in the ventilation rate had a significant effect on the indoor radon concentration.

Measurements of Indoor Radon Levels and Dose Estimation and Lung Cancer Risk Determination for Workers in Health Centres of Some Towns in the Sudan

“…For more safety the workers advised to improve ventilation; since it is well known that an increased ventilation rate is an important factor in reducing the indoor radon level [41]. We also found that the radon concentrations in moderately ventilated health centers were relatively higher when compared to those in well-ventilated ones.…”

“…Our average values obtained here is lower than that reported values from Omdurman and Sinnar, Sudan [16], Brazil [47], Iraq [49], and Pakistan [50], higher than the recorded values for Jordan [13], Saudi Arabia [41] and India [46], nearer to the values reported from Al-Hosh (Sudan) [16 ] and USA [44]. …”

A Study of Radium Concentration and Radon Exhalation Rate in Soil Samples from Kassala Town, Sudan Using SSNTDs

“…Having close observation at Table 2 which compares values from different regions in Sudan and other Countries, the average values of radium concentration and radon exhalation rates (surface and mass) obtained here is lower than that reported from Saudi Arabia [7], Singa and Rabak towns, Sudan [15], Ethiopia [34], higher than the recorded values for Bulandshahr district, Uttar Pradesh-India [35], Egyp [36], Karbi Anglong district of Assam-India [37] and nearer to the values reported from India [38].…”

“…The inhalation of radon and its daughter products can cause a significant health hazard when present in enhanced levels in the enclosed indoor environments like a human dwelling [1 -6]. The radon concentration in the ground depends on the radium content of the soil and the emanation power of soils and rocks [7,8].…”

A Correlation Study between Radium Content and Radon Exhalation Rates in Soil Samples along the Coastal Regions of Perumathura and Vizhinjam, Trivandrum District, Kerala

“…Radon is produced due to the radioactive decay of radium in earth crust. It's concentration in the ground depends on the radium content of the soil and the emanation power of soils and rocks [5], [6]. Radium is a decay product of uranium in the naturally occurring uranium series.…”