Variation of indoor radon progeny concentration and its role in dose assessment

Comparison of seasonal variability in European domestic radon measurements

“…Outside the USA, G = 0.227 is found in the Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (Krewski et al, 2005), while the highest value so far identified worldwide, G = 0.265, is found in Amritsar, India (Singh et al, 2008). Winnipeg is situated on the recent deep clay bed of pre-historic glacial Lake Agassiz (Upham, 1895), while Amritsar, on the Punjab plain, is located on granite bedrock overlain with several hundred metres of quaternary limestones and dolomites (Kochar, 2004).…”

Lorenz Curve and Gini Coefficient: Novel tools for analysing seasonal variation of environmental radon gas

“…As there are relatively few comprehensive SCF datasets available, nearly all derived from the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, the information collated for this study can be regarded as representative of the current state of knowledge. Geographical areas for which data were identified include the principal regions of mainland Britain (UKCC, 2002) and of France (Baysson et al, 2003), together with results from a number of other European countries (Madden et al, 1994;Hubbard et al, 1996;Karpinska et al, 2004;Tapia et al, 2006;Bossew and Lettner, 2007), from India (Singh et al, 2007) and localised data from different parts of Canada (Chen, 2003;Krewski et al, 2005b) and the USA (Steck et al, 2004;Momčilovič and Lykken, 2007). In addition, the effect of radon measurement duration has been explored in detail, as have results from soil-gas radon determinations and ventilation comparison experiments, all demonstrating the versatility of the treatment.…”

“…Recent studies , by the Radon Research Group at the University of Northampton and Northampton General Hospital, of radon levels in a set of houses situated on radon-rich strata in Northamptonshire, England, indicate that the SCFs recommended for application in the United Kingdom (UK) may not be applicable nationwide and are influenced by the underlying geology at the measurement site. Other studies have concluded that different SCF sets are required for different regions of the UK (UKCC, 2002) and for different regions of France (Baysson et al, 2003); further published results indicate that SCFs applicable to the UK differ significantly from those derived elsewhere in Europe (Madden et al, 1994;Azimi, 1996;Hubbard et al, 1996;Baysson et al, 2003;Karpinska et al, 2004;Tapia et al, 2006;Bossew and Lettner, 2007), Asia (Singh et al, 2007) and North America (Chen, 2003;Krewski et al, 2005b) in both amplitude and phase. These observations suggest that different SCFs may be required in localities of differing geological, geographical and climatic characteristics, reinforcing the close links between experimentally observed domestic radon concentrations and the geological and geographical environments (Miles and Appleton, 2005), and supporting the thesis that seasonal variability in indoor radon concentration cannot realistically be represented by a single national or international SCF scheme.…”

A critical analysis of climatic influences on indoor radon concentrations: Implications for seasonal correction

“…Subsequent study of radon levels in a set of homes situated on radon-rich Jurassic strata in Northamptonshire, England (Denman et al, 2007a) confirmed that the UK domestic SCF set was, indeed, not replicated by the experimental data. Using published data, Groves-Kirkby et al (2009a, 2009b) showed that the set of domestic SCFs recommended for use across the UK (Wrixon et al, 1988;Miles and Howarth, 2008) differs significantly in both amplitude and phase from national SCF sets derived elsewhere in Europe (Azimi, 1996;Baysson et al, 2003;Bossew and Lettner, 2007;Burke and Murphy, 2011;Grainger et al, 2000;Hubbard and Hagberg, 1996;Karpinska et al, 2004;Tapia et al, 2006), in Asia (Singh et al, 2008) and in North America (Chen, 2001;Krewski et al, 2005).…”