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Kranrod C, Tamakuma Y, Hosoda M, Tokonami S. Importance of Discriminative Measurement for Radon Isotopes and Its Utilization in the Environment and Lessons Learned from Using the RADUET Monitor. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E4141. [PMID: 32531953 PMCID: PMC7312857 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17114141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 05/31/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Radon (222Rn) and thoron (220Rn), sources of natural background radiation, have been the subjects of long-standing studies, including research into radon and thoron as major causes of lung cancer at domestic and international levels. In this regard, radon and thoron measurement studies have been widely conducted all over the world. Generally, the techniques used relate to passive nuclear track detectors. Some surveys have shown that passive monitors for radon are sensitive to thoron, and hence some measured results have probably overestimated radon concentrations. This study investigated radon and thoron measurements in domestic and international surveys using the passive radon-thoron discriminative monitor, commercially named RADUET. This paper attempts to provide an understanding of discriminative measurements of radon isotopes and to present an evidence-based roadmap.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chutima Kranrod
- Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan; (C.K.); (Y.T.); (M.H.)
- Natural Radiation Survey and Analysis Research Unit, Department of Nuclear Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Yuki Tamakuma
- Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan; (C.K.); (Y.T.); (M.H.)
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki 036-8564, Aomori, Japan
| | - Masahiro Hosoda
- Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan; (C.K.); (Y.T.); (M.H.)
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki 036-8564, Aomori, Japan
| | - Shinji Tokonami
- Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan; (C.K.); (Y.T.); (M.H.)
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Chen J, Harley NH. A Review of Indoor and Outdoor Radon Equilibrium Factors-part II: 220Rn. HEALTH PHYSICS 2018; 115:500-506. [PMID: 30148815 DOI: 10.1097/hp.0000000000000910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Radon exposure levels are given in terms of radon gas concentration in the air. However, in the calculation of radon dose to the lung, the radon equilibrium equivalent concentration is used. The measured equilibrium factor times the measured radon gas concentration estimates the equilibrium equivalent concentration. Therefore, equilibrium factor is an important factor in radon dose calculations. A review of published measurements of equilibrium factors shows a range of values reported in studies from more than 13 countries and regions measured in indoor residential, indoor public, and outdoor environments. Values for Rn are reported and discussed here as the second of a two-part series, with special attention paid to results from India and China, where measured equilibrium factors are reported for hundreds and thousands of households, respectively. The wide range of measured equilibrium factors suggests that location-specific values measured in the typical breathing zone are more appropriate than a worldwide average value in the calculation of lung bronchial dose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Chen
- Radiation Protection Bureau, Health Canada, 775 Brookfield Road, Ottawa K1A 1C1, Canada
| | - Naomi H Harley
- New York University School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016
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Gulan L, Zunić ZS, Milić G, Ishikawa T, Omori Y, Vučković B, Nikezić D, Krstić D, Bossew P. First step of indoor thoron mapping of Kosovo and Metohija. RADIATION PROTECTION DOSIMETRY 2014; 162:157-162. [PMID: 25080438 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncu250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The survey of natural radioactivity in Kosovo and Metohija involves 180 indoor (220)Rn measurements. They were performed either in living rooms or in bedrooms of 127 individual, rural type houses, using a passive method with application of CR-39 solid-state nuclear track detectors. Detectors were deployed at a distance of >10 cm from the walls. Values of all 180 measurements for 127 houses give an arithmetic mean (AM) of 132 Bq m(-3). The data for indoor thoron mapping arranged within 10 km × 10 km grid cells give an AM of 118 Bq m(-3) over AM grid cells. The distribution over individual data and the grid cells can be described as normal. About 19 % of the area of Kosovo and Metohija was covered by mapping. This study includes statistical analysis and discussion of factors, such as geogenic and seasonal, which possibly affect thoron concentration, as well as comparison with simultaneous radon measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ljiljana Gulan
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Pristina, Lole Ribara 29, Kosovska Mitrovica 38200, Serbia
| | - Zora S Zunić
- Institute of Nuclear Sciences 'Vinca', University of Belgrade, P.O. Box 522, Belgrade 11000, Serbia
| | - Gordana Milić
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Pristina, Lole Ribara 29, Kosovska Mitrovica 38200, Serbia
| | - Tetsuo Ishikawa
- Department of Radiation Physics and Chemistry, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Hikariga-oka 1, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
| | - Yasutaka Omori
- Department of Radiation Physics and Chemistry, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Hikariga-oka 1, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
| | - Biljana Vučković
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Pristina, Lole Ribara 29, Kosovska Mitrovica 38200, Serbia
| | - Dragoslav Nikezić
- Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, Radoja Domanovica 12, Kragujevac 34000, Serbia
| | - Dragana Krstić
- Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, Radoja Domanovica 12, Kragujevac 34000, Serbia
| | - Peter Bossew
- Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz (German Federal Office for Radiation Protection), Köpenicker Allee 120-130, Berlin D-10318, Germany
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