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Liu Y, Xu Y, Xu W, He Z, Fu C, Du F. Radon and lung cancer: Current status and future prospects. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2024; 198:104363. [PMID: 38657702 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2024.104363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Beyond tobacco smoking, radon takes its place as the second most significant contributor to lung cancer, excluding hereditary and other biologically related factors. Radon and its byproducts play a pivotal role in exposing humans to elevated levels of natural radiation. Approximately 10-20 % of lung cancer cases worldwide can be attributed to radon exposure, leading to between 3 % and 20 % of all lung cancer-related deaths. Nevertheless, a knowledge gap persists regarding the association between radon and lung cancer, impeding radon risk reduction initiatives globally. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the current state of research in epidemiology, cell biology, dosimetry, and risk modeling concerning radon exposure and its relevance to lung cancer. It also delves into methods for measuring radon concentrations, monitoring radon risk zones, and identifying priorities for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Liu
- School of Remote Sensing and Information Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430079, China
| | - Yanqing Xu
- School of Remote Sensing and Information Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430079, China.
| | - Wei Xu
- Health Management Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, China
| | - Zhengzhong He
- School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China
| | - Cong Fu
- School of Remote Sensing and Information Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430079, China
| | - Fen Du
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Wuhan University TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China
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Xia M, Ye Y, Zhou N. Novel approaches for accurately measuring radon exhalation rate and mechanism interpreted by numerical simulation. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 468:133865. [PMID: 38412801 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Measurements of radon exhalation rate using traditional methods can be affected by back-diffusion or differential pressure in the accumulation chamber, resulting in deviations between the measured and the true values. To obtain an accurate radon exhalation rate for evaluation of radon-risk regions, two novel approaches of measurements based on traditional methods were proposed. Repeated experiments were implemented on a self-designed stainless cylindrical vessel filled with uranium tailings sand. The measured radon exhalation rates on average were 0.51 ± 0.02 and 0.52 ± 0.02 Bq m-2 s-1 for the two proposed methods, with 0.02% and 0.04%, respectively, deviations from the theoretical value. In addition, numerical techniques were employed to interpret the defects of traditional methods and mechanisms of proposed approaches to measure accurate values. Two novel approaches have significantly reduced the impact of back diffusion and differential pressure inside the chamber and consumed less time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Xia
- School of Resources Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Yongjun Ye
- School of Resources Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China; Key Discipline Laboratory for National Defense for Biotechnology in Uranium Mining and Hydrometallurgy, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China.
| | - Ning Zhou
- School of Resources Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
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A Preliminary Study of the Characteristics of Radon Data from Indoor Environments and Building Materials in the Campania Region Using PCA and K-Means Statistical Analyses. ENVIRONMENTS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/environments9070082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
For a healthy indoor environment, it is important to understand which materials and factors favor the generation of high levels of indoor radon. A preliminary multivariate statistical analysis was carried out on two datasets concerning indoor radon and building materials in the Campania Region using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and the k-means partitional analysis technique. A total of 13 parameters related to building materials were used. The results show the greater contribution of building materials of volcanic origin to the concentration of indoor radon and thoron activity and the different influence of the parameters of the 31 materials analyzed. The same analyses applied to the indoor radon values of 694 rooms in the Campania Region were equally effective in assessing the structural characteristics of indoor environments that most influence indoor radon levels. The study provided an effective assessment of the influence on radon activity of several environmental parameters, which are often not adequately considered.
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Experimental estimation of the diffusion coefficient in radon barrier materials based on ISO/TS 11665-13:2017. Radiat Phys Chem Oxf Engl 1993 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.radphyschem.2022.109993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Nunes LJR, Curado A, da Graça LCC, Soares S, Lopes SI. Impacts of Indoor Radon on Health: A Comprehensive Review on Causes, Assessment and Remediation Strategies. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19073929. [PMID: 35409610 PMCID: PMC8997394 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19073929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Indoor radon exposure is raising concerns due to its impact on health, namely its known relationship with lung cancer. Consequently, there is an urgent need to understand the risk factors associated with radon exposure, and how this can be harmful to the health of exposed populations. This article presents a comprehensive review of studies indicating a correlation between indoor radon exposure and the higher probability of occurrence of health problems in exposed populations. The analyzed studies statistically justify this correlation between exposure to indoor radon and the incidence of lung diseases in regions where concentrations are particularly high. However, some studies also showed that even in situations where indoor radon concentrations are lower, can be found a tendency, albeit smaller, for the occurrence of negative impacts on lung cancer incidence. Lastly, regarding risk remediation, an analysis has been conducted and presented in two core perspectives: (i) focusing on the identification and application of corrective measures in pre-existing buildings, and (ii) focusing on the implementation of preventive measures during the project design and before construction, both focusing on mitigating negative impacts of indoor radon exposure on the health of populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonel J. R. Nunes
- PROMETHEUS, Unidade de Investigação em Materiais, Energia e Ambiente para a Sustentabilidade, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal;
- Escola Superior Agrária, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, 4990-706 Ponte de Lima, Portugal
- Correspondence:
| | - António Curado
- PROMETHEUS, Unidade de Investigação em Materiais, Energia e Ambiente para a Sustentabilidade, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal;
- Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, 4900-348 Viana do Castelo, Portugal;
| | - Luís C. C. da Graça
- UICISA:E, Unidade de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde: Enfermagem, Escola Superior de Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal; (L.C.C.d.G.); (S.S.)
| | - Salete Soares
- UICISA:E, Unidade de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde: Enfermagem, Escola Superior de Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal; (L.C.C.d.G.); (S.S.)
| | - Sérgio Ivan Lopes
- Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, 4900-348 Viana do Castelo, Portugal;
- ADiT-Lab, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal
- Instituto de Telecomunicações (I), Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
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Hong C, Yang Y, Wang H, Liu Y, Li X, Lei B, Lan M, Chen Y, Dai X. Analysis of equivalent thickness of geological media for lab-scale study of radon exhalation. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:5931-5944. [PMID: 34432210 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-15604-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Geological media are omnipresent in nature. Lab-scale tests are frequently employed in radon exhalation measurements for these media. Thus, it is critical to find the thickness of the medium at an experimental scale that is equivalent to the medium thickness in a real geological system. Based on the diffusion-advection transport of radon, theoretical models of the surface radon exhalation rate for homogeneous semi-infinite and finite-thickness systems were derived (denoted as Jse and Jfi, respectively). Analysis of the equivalency of Jse and Jfi was subsequently carried out by introducing several dimensionless parameters, including the ratio of the exhalation rates for the semi-infinite and finite-thickness models, ε, and the number of diffusion lengths required to achieve a desired ε value, n. The results showed that when radon transport in geological media is dominantly driven by diffusion effect, if n > 3.6626, then ε > 95%; if n > 5.9790, then ε > 99.5%. When radon migration is dominantly driven by advection effect, if n > 2.5002, then ε > 95%; if n > 4.0152, then ε > 99.5%. Therefore, if the thickness of the geological media (x0) is greater than a certain n times the radon diffusion length of the media (L), the media can be modeled as semi-infinite. To validate the model, a pure radon diffusion experiment (no advection) was developed using uranium mill tailings, laterite, and radium-bearing rocklike material with different thicknesses (x0). The theoretical model was demonstrated to be reliable and valid. This study provides a basis for determining the appropriate thickness of geological media in lab-scale radon exhalation measurement experiments with open bottom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changshou Hong
- School of Resources, Environmental and Safety Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
- Hunan Province Engineering Technology Research Center of Uranium Tailings Treatment, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
- Hunan Province Engineering Research Center of Radioactive Control Technology in Uranium Mining and Metallurgy, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Yini Yang
- The Campus Clinics, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Hong Wang
- School of Resources, Environmental and Safety Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China.
| | - Yong Liu
- School of Resources, Environmental and Safety Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
- Hunan Province Engineering Technology Research Center of Uranium Tailings Treatment, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
- Hunan Province Engineering Research Center of Radioactive Control Technology in Uranium Mining and Metallurgy, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Xiangyang Li
- School of Resources, Environmental and Safety Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
- Hunan Province Engineering Technology Research Center of Uranium Tailings Treatment, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
- Hunan Province Engineering Research Center of Radioactive Control Technology in Uranium Mining and Metallurgy, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Bo Lei
- School of Resources, Environmental and Safety Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China.
| | - Ming Lan
- School of Resources, Environmental and Safety Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Yifan Chen
- School of Resources, Environmental and Safety Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Xingwang Dai
- School of Resources, Environmental and Safety Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
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Sabbarese C, Ambrosino F, D'Onofrio A. Development of radon transport model in different types of dwellings to assess indoor activity concentration. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2021; 227:106501. [PMID: 33310392 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2020.106501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The influence of different building types on the activity concentration of Radon indoor is studied through transport models in soil and building materials. The numerical solutions of the relevant transport equations are solved by the finite differences method (FDM) and used to evaluate the indoor Radon activity concentration. Several boundary conditions are introduced to simulate the Radon entry into the buildings from soils and to assess the Radon activity concentration at the different floors. The types of dwelling investigated differ in the position of the lower floor respect to the ground. Comparisons are made to modeling assessments obtained considering different soil characteristics underneath the building and building materials to simulate indoor Radon activity concentration. These investigations lead to the conclusion that, in addition to the nature of the soil and building materials, the position of lower floor of dwellings plays a significant role in determining the amount of radon entry into residential buildings. This work is effective to assess the health hazards coming from the Radon accumulation in living environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Sabbarese
- Department of Mathematics and Physics, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Viale Lincoln 5, 81100, Caserta, Italy.
| | - F Ambrosino
- Department of Mathematics and Physics, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Viale Lincoln 5, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - A D'Onofrio
- Department of Mathematics and Physics, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Viale Lincoln 5, 81100, Caserta, Italy
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Szajerski P. Distribution of uranium and thorium chains radionuclides in different fractions of phosphogypsum grains. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 27:15856-15868. [PMID: 32095961 PMCID: PMC7190684 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-08090-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
This work presents results obtained using gamma spectrometry measurements of phosphogypsum samples on a non-fractionated (native) and fractionated phosphogypsum byproduct. The phosphogypsum was divided into particles size fractions within the range of < 0.063, 0.063-0.090, 0.090-0.125, 0.125-0.250, and over 0.250 mm and analyzed after reaching radioactive equilibrium using high-resolution gamma spectrometry technique. It was found that there is no significant differentiation between 226Ra distribution among particular grain size fractions of this material; however, tendency for preferential retention of radionuclides in particular grain size fractions is observed. The detailed analysis of results revealed that radium is preferentially retained in smaller grain size fractions, whereas lead and thorium in coarse fractions. The results indicate that overall 226Ra activity concentrations between particular fractions of phosphogypsum vary globally between - 34 and + 47% regarding non-fractionated material, and for 210Pb activity concentration, fluctuations are found between - 26 up and + 38%. Presumably, the mechanism of radium incorporation into gypsum phase is based on a sequence of radium bearing sulfate phases formation followed by a surface adsorption of these phases on the calcium sulfate crystals, whereas for lead and thorium ions, rather incorporation into crystal lattice should be expected as more likelihood process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Szajerski
- Institute of Applied Radiation Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Wroblewskiego 15, 93-590, Lodz, Poland.
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Bem H, Gasiorowski A, Szajerski P. A fast method for the simultaneous determination of soil radon ( 222Rn) and thoron ( 220Rn) concentrations by liquid scintillation counting. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 709:136127. [PMID: 31884268 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
This paper presents a fast method dedicated to measurements of radon nuclides in the soil gas. The soil gas is sampled by a typical hollow tube probe by 10 min of sucking of about 3 dm3 of gas and passing it directly through a 16 cm3 of water-immiscible liquid scintillator placed in a typical 20 cm3 scintillation vials, where the radon and thoron nuclides are effectively absorbed. Most of the presently used active methods for radon isotopes determination (e.g., RAD7 or AlphaGuard) require the soil gas transfer to the measuring device. The serious limitation of such approach is the necessity to wait until the radon daughter isotopes decay, before counter is ready for the next measurement. In the proposed method, several samples can be simultaneously gathered from the examined areas in the form of the scintillation vials, which are ready for later measurements in the automatic liquid scintillation counters in the lab or directly in situ. For that purpose, the combined mathematical model for the simultaneous radon and thoron determination has been elaborated. The direct in situ measurements of the sample activity between 60 and 240 s after the end of sampling followed by a second activity measurement after 3 h allow for the determination of both 220Rn and 222Rn concentrations in the soil gas. The limit of detection for 222Rn isotope during 10 min counting is 25 Bq·m-3, whereas for a 3 min counting of 220Rn just after sampling was found to be ca. 150 Bq·m-3. The method was successfully verified and applied for the simultaneous radon and thoron concentrations measurements in the soil gas in Central Poland region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henryk Bem
- The President Stanislaw Wojciechowski State University of Applied Sciences in Kalisz, Nowy Swiat 4, 62-800 Kalisz, Poland.
| | - Andrzej Gasiorowski
- Institute of Applied Radiation Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Wroblewskiego 15, 90-924 Lodz, Poland.
| | - Piotr Szajerski
- Institute of Applied Radiation Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Wroblewskiego 15, 90-924 Lodz, Poland.
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