Mapping radon hazard areas using 238U measurements and geological units: a study in a high background radiation city of China

Liu, Hongtao; Wang, Nanping; Chu, Xiaoqing; Li, Ting; Zheng, Ling; Yan, Shouliang; Li, Shijun

doi:10.1007/s10967-016-4717-5

Cited by 17 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Their identification, however, is a complex issue, as it must take into account numerous factors that affect the appearance of 222 Rn in air and its accumulation in dwellings. There are different approaches to this issue, and some of them include potential formation of 222 Rn as a starting point ( 36 ). Our data allow us to only determine areas in Croatia where the formation of 222 Rn in the topmost layer of soil is comparatively enhanced because 226 Ra concentrations are above average.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radioactivity of soil in Croatia I: naturally occurring decay chains

Šoštarić

Petrinec

Avdić

et al. 2021

Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology

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The assessment of environmental radioactivity much relies on radionuclide content in soil. This stems from the significant contribution of soil to both external and internal exposure to ionising radiation via direct emission of gamma radiation and soil-to-plant radionuclide transfer, respectively. This motivated us to carry out a systematic research on the radioactivity of soil in Croatia to obtain relevant data that can be used as a basis for understanding the related effects of geomorphological, biogeographical, and climatological properties of the environment. We collected samples of the surface layer of uncultivated soil (0–10 cm) at 138 sites from all over the country and measured them for radionuclide activity concentrations by means of high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry. This resulted in radioactivity maps containing data on activity concentrations of representative radionuclides in the environment. In this paper, which is the first in our two-part presentation, we focus on the naturally occurring 232Th and 238U decay chains and their correlations with the diversity of Croatian regions. For both of the chains, activity concentrations were the highest in the Dinaric region, the lowest in the Pannonian region, and intermediate in the Adriatic region. Relatively high concentrations of 226Ra in the soil of the Dinaric region implied a possibility of an enhanced emanation of its progeny 222Rn into the air. Activity concentrations of 210Pb were additionally elevated in areas with dense vegetation, most probably due to an atmospheric deposition of airborne 210Pb onto the surface of plants and their eventual decomposition on the ground.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radioactivity of soil in Croatia I: naturally occurring decay chains

Šoštarić

Petrinec

Avdić

et al. 2021

Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology

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“…The relationship between soil gas radon concentration and geological structure is well known. Soils contain different volumes of parent elements for radon (U, Th, and Ra), which determines their radioactivity [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]. Tectonic disturbances are expressed in the form of linear anomalies of a high soil gas radon concentration.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Assessment of Radon Emissions as Results of the Soil Technogenic Disturbance

Leshukov

Ларионов

Legoshchin

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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222Rn is a specific indoor-type pollutant that represents a primary radiological hazard as a main source of ionizing radiation (IR) for humans. Coal mining creates new sources of gas that are formed over mines. This process can significantly increase the density of radon flux. Therefore, the concentration of radon in a room can increase. We investigated the territory of the Leninsk-Kuznetsky district of the Kemerovo region, which is subject to underground mining. Two groups of residential locations and measuring points of radon flux density were selected to identify the higher emanation relationship of radon and mining-affected areas. The first group (Case group) included subjects located within the territory of the underground mine; the other (Control group) included subjects in an area without mining. Radon flux density in coal mining areas was significantly higher than in the rest of the territory; moreover, the percentage of values in the Case group that had a radon flux density above 80 mBq·m−2·s−1 was 64.53%. For the Case group, 20.62% of residential buildings had a radon concentration above 200 Bq/m3. For the studied area, the radon flux density correlates positively (r = 0.79, p = 0.002) with indoor radon. Additional clastogenic/aneugenic effects are also found in dwellings with increased volume activity of radon (VAR) within the territories of underground mines. Ring chromosomes are positively correlated with radon levels in smoker groups but not in non-smokers. An increased frequency of binucleated (BN) cells with micronuclei (MN) is also positively correlated with VAR regardless of smoking status. It has been concluded that reducing the total exposure level of a population to radon can be achieved by monitoring areas with underground mines where radon is emitted heavily.

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“…In addition, a relationship between the geogenic potential of radon and Results shown in several studies and performed in different parts of the world have shown that radon distribution is closely related to geology, the presence of faults, local lithology, and the distribution of 238 U in soil. In particular, the latter feature is the main result obtained in many works aimed at mapping the potential of radon in an investigated area [21,27,38]. In addition, a relationship between the geogenic potential of radon and indoor concentrations has been shown [39,40].…”

Section: Statisticalmentioning

confidence: 79%

“…Results shown in several studies and performed in different parts of the world have shown that radon distribution is closely related to geology, the presence of faults, local lithology, and the distribution of 238 U in soil. In particular, the latter feature is the main result obtained in many works aimed at mapping the potential of radon in an investigated area [21,27,38]. In addition, a relationship between the geogenic potential of radon and Results shown in several studies and performed in different parts of the world have shown that radon distribution is closely related to geology, the presence of faults, local lithology, and the distribution of 238 U in soil.…”

Section: Statisticalmentioning

confidence: 81%

Gini Method Application: Indoor Radon Survey in Kpong, Ghana

et al. 2022

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In this study, the indoor radon concentrations map, starting from a sparse measurements survey, was realized with the Gini index method. This method was applied on a real dataset coming from indoor radon measurements carried out in Kpong, Ghana. The Gini coefficient variogram is shown to be a good estimator of the inhomogeneity degree of radon concentration because it allows for better constraining of the critical distance below which the radon geological source can be considered as uniform. The indoor radon measurements were performed in 96 dwellings in Kpong, Ghana. The data showed that 84% of the residences monitored had radon levels below 100 Bqm−3, versus 16% having levels above the World Health Organization’s (WHO) suggested reference range (100 Bqm−3). The survey indicated that the average indoor radon concentration (IRC) was 55 ± 36 Bqm−3. The concentrations range from 4–176 Bqm−3. The mean value 55 Bqm−3 is 38% higher than the world’s average IRC of 40 Bqm−3 (UNSCEAR, 1993).

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Mapping radon hazard areas using 238U measurements and geological units: a study in a high background radiation city of China

Cited by 17 publications

References 33 publications

Radioactivity of soil in Croatia I: naturally occurring decay chains

Radioactivity of soil in Croatia I: naturally occurring decay chains

The Assessment of Radon Emissions as Results of the Soil Technogenic Disturbance

Gini Method Application: Indoor Radon Survey in Kpong, Ghana

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