Systematic Indoor Radon and Gamma Measurements in Kindergartens and Play Schools in Slovenia

Abstract

Systematic measurements of indoor radon concentrations and gamma dose rates were carried out in the 730 kindergartens and play schools in Slovenia that, together, care for 65,600 children. The main method for indoor radon measurement was direct sampling in alpha scintillation cells, but in cases with an increased instantaneous radon concentration, the additional methods of track-etch detectors and alpha spectroscopy were applied. In 528 kindergartens and play schools (72%), radon concentrations were below 100 Bq m-3, with a geometric mean of 58 Bq m-3. In 16 kindergartens and play schools (2.2%), radon concentrations exceeded 800 Bq m-3. In all cases, the main reason for a high indoor radon concentration was the geological structure of the soil. Gamma dose rates were measured with a portable scintillation counter, but in the Ljubljana region thermoluminescence dosimeters were also exposed. The results ranged from 30 to 295 nGy h-1, with a geometric mean of 88 nGy h-1.

A Review on Environmental Radon and Its Potential Health Risk on Humans

“…• Reference laboratories provide guidance on the scientific issues concerning the metrology of radon (radon-222), thoron (radon-220,) and their decay products, in particular in the areas of laboratory and field Sweden 150 10%>400 [25] calibration of measurement devices, field sampling, and survey methods and analytical procedures. Such laboratories have been designated for three regions: Europe, North America, Asia and the Pacific • Technical support laboratories provide technical support in the form of calibrated exposure chambers, which are used to conduct intercomparison exercises for radon-222, thoron, and their decay products under defined laboratory conditions.…”

“…It also indicated that about 6 million housing units exceeded the action level of 150 Becquerels per m 3. [25].…”

Identification and inventory of tenorm sources in Slovenia

“…There were two main nation-wide radioactivity surveys carried out: Rn mapping [1] and mapping of natural radioactivity in Slovenia [2]. The main mines identified as sources of TENORM are (see Fig.…”

Indoor radon concentration, outdoor gamma dose rates and impact of geology in the Dhirkot area, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, sub-Himalayas, Pakistan

“…The exposure to radiation from radon and the lung cancer risks to inhabitants are dependent on the radon level in the houses. This study deals with the measurement of radon levels in the dwellings of Dhirkot and its surrounding areas by using the solid state nuclear track detector technique (Fleischer et al, 1975;Tufail and Ahmad, 1992;Vaupotic et al, 1994;Akram et al, 2005;Majvorn, 1986).…”