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Maheso AM, Bezuidenhout J, Newman RT. Indoor Radon Levels in Homes and Schools in the Western Cape, South Africa-Results from a Schools Science Outreach Initiative and Corresponding Model Predictions. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:1350. [PMID: 36674106 PMCID: PMC9858671 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20021350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
We describe a school science outreach initiative that introduced learners to applied nuclear physics research by means of a two-day workshop that involved learners and teachers from 5 schools in the Western Cape province of South Africa. During this workshop, the participants were introduced to the naturally occurring, inert, colorless, and tasteless radioactive gas radon (222Rn). During the first day of the workshop, the participants were informed about the detrimental health impacts of inhaling radon and its daughter radionuclides and were shown how indoor radon activity concentrations can be measured using the electret ion chamber (EIC) technology. The learners were then each supplied with a short-term electret (E-PERM, Radelec, Frederick, MD, USA) and associated ion chamber to enable them to make radon measurements in their homes. The teachers in turn were supplied with EICs to enable them make radon measurements in their schools. The participants returned the EICs on the second day of the workshop, one week later. Here, the drop in the potential difference across each electret was measured in order to calculate the average indoor radon activity concentration. A total of 49 indoor radon concentrations were measured. The average indoor radon concentrations were 36 ± 26 Bqm-3 in homes and 41 ± 36 Bqm-3 in schools, while the highest concentration was found to be 144 Bqm-3. These levels were compared to predictions from a model that uses input information about the uranium content associated with the surface geology at each measurement location. The predictions compared well with the measured values.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jacques Bezuidenhout
- Faculty of Military Science, Stellenbosch University, Saldanha 7394, South Africa
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Akamba Mbembe B, Manga A, Mbida Mbembe S, Ele Abiama P, Ondo Meye P, Kofane TC, Ben-Bolie GH. INDOOR RADON (222RN) MEASUREMENTS AND ESTIMATION OF ANNUAL EFFECTIVE DOSE IN MVANGAN LOCALITY, SOUTH CAMEROON. RADIATION PROTECTION DOSIMETRY 2022; 198:1565-1574. [PMID: 36274266 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncac204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The present work was aimed at measuring indoor radon activity concentrations in dwellings in Mvangan locality, South Cameroon, in order to assess the extent of measures that may be necessary for controlling public indoor radon exposure in this area. Measurements were carried out using passive solid-state nuclear track detectors (RADONAVA Inc., RadTrak2, Sweden) following ISO 11665-4 standard. Radon concentration ranged between 36 ± 20 and 150 ± 30 Bq m-3 with arithmetic and geometric means values of 64 ± 25 and 60 ± 1 Bq m-3, respectively. These mean values were greater than worldwide values presented by United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), which are, respectively, 40 and 30 Bq m-3. 96% of dwellings that have radon concentrations below the World Health Organization (WHO) reference level of 100 Bq m-3, whereas 4% of dwellings have radon concentrations higher than this level but lower than 300 Bq m-3, the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) reference level. Annual effective doses due to indoor radon ranged between 0.7 and 2.8 mSv y-1 with an arithmetic mean value of 1.2 ± 0.5 mSv y-1. These values were below the lower limit of the ICRP-recommended action level interval 3-10 mSv y-1. It has been observed that annual effective dose received by residents in cement bricks dwellings were not significantly different (P-value = 0.565) than those received by residents in mud dwellings in Mvangan locality. The mean number of persons expected to be diagnosed with or die from cancer (solid cancers and leukemia) were 162 ± 48 (61 ± 25 for males and 101 ± 41 for females) and 82 ± 24 (33 ± 13 for males and 49 ± 20 for females), respectively. The results obtained in this study prove that the populations of Mvangan locality are exposed to a relatively low potential risk of cancer incidence and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bertrand Akamba Mbembe
- Office of Regulatory and Technical activities, National Radiation Protection Agency, PO Box 33172, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Department of Physics, University of Yaounde I, Faculty of Science, Nuclear Physics Laboratory, PO Box 1937, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - André Manga
- Nuclear Technology Section, Institute of Geological and Mining Research, PO Box 4110, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Serge Mbida Mbembe
- Office of Regulatory and Technical activities, National Radiation Protection Agency, PO Box 33172, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Department of Physics, University of Yaounde I, Faculty of Science, Nuclear Physics Laboratory, PO Box 1937, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Patrice Ele Abiama
- Department of Physics, University of Yaounde I, Faculty of Science, Nuclear Physics Laboratory, PO Box 1937, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Nuclear Technology Section, Institute of Geological and Mining Research, PO Box 4110, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Philippe Ondo Meye
- Department of Physics, University of Yaounde I, Faculty of Science, Nuclear Physics Laboratory, PO Box 1937, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Direction Generale de la Radioprotection et de la Surete Nucleaire, Ministere de l'Energie et des Ressources Hydrauliques, Libreville, Gabon
| | - Timoléon Crépin Kofane
- Department of Physics, University of Yaounde I, Faculty of Science, Nuclear Physics Laboratory, PO Box 1937, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Germain Hubert Ben-Bolie
- Department of Physics, University of Yaounde I, Faculty of Science, Nuclear Physics Laboratory, PO Box 1937, Yaoundé, Cameroon
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Teiri H, Nazmara S, Abdolahnejad A, Hajizadeh Y, Amin MM. Indoor radon measurement in buildings of a university campus in central Iran and estimation of its effective dose and health risk assessment. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCE & ENGINEERING 2021; 19:1643-1652. [PMID: 34900295 PMCID: PMC8617095 DOI: 10.1007/s40201-021-00720-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Indoor radon is a serious health concern and contributes about 10% of deaths from lung cancer in the USA and Europe. In this study, radon and thoron levels of 20 multi-floor buildings on the campus of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences were measured in cold and hot seasons of a year. SARAD- RTM1688 radon and thoron monitor was used for measurement. The annual effective dose of radon exposure was also estimated for residences on the campus. The results showed that radon concentration was below the WHO guideline (100 Bq m- 3) in most of the buildings. The ranges of radon were from 3 ± 10% to 322 ± 15% Bq m- 3 in winter and from below the detectable level to 145 ± 8% Bq m- 3 in summer. Mostly, the radon concentration in the basement or ground floors was higher than upper floors, however, exceptions were observed in some locations. For thoron, no special trends were observed, and in the majority of buildings, its concentration was below the detectable level. However, in a few locations besides radon, thoron was also measured at a high level during both seasons. The average annual effective dose via radon exposure was estimated to be 0.261 ± 0.339 mSv y- 1. The mean excess lung cancer risk (ELCR) was estimated to be 0.10%. It was concluded that indoor air ventilation, buildings' flooring and construction materials, along with the geological structure of the ground could be the factors influencing the radon concentration inside the buildings. Thus, some applicable radon prevention and mitigation techniques were suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hakimeh Teiri
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Environment Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Shahrokh Nazmara
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Abdolahnejad
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh, Iran
| | - Yaghoub Hajizadeh
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Environment Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Mehdi Amin
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Environment Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
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Assessment of excess lifetime cancer risk and risk of lung cancer due to exposure to radon in a middle eastern city in Iran. RADIATION MEDICINE AND PROTECTION 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.radmp.2021.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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Adelikhah M, Shahrokhi A, Imani M, Chalupnik S, Kovács T. Radiological Assessment of Indoor Radon and Thoron Concentrations and Indoor Radon Map of Dwellings in Mashhad, Iran. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 18:E141. [PMID: 33379145 PMCID: PMC7794745 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18010141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
A comprehensive study was carried out to measure indoor radon/thoron concentrations in 78 dwellings and soil-gas radon in the city of Mashhad, Iran during two seasons, using two common radon monitoring devices (NRPB and RADUET). In the winter, indoor radon concentrations measured between 75 ± 11 to 376 ± 24 Bq·m-3 (mean: 150 ± 19 Bq m-3), whereas indoor thoron concentrations ranged from below the Lower Limit of Detection (LLD) to 166 ± 10 Bq·m-3 (mean: 66 ± 8 Bq m-3), while radon and thoron concentrations in summer fell between 50 ± 11 and 305 ± 24 Bq·m-3 (mean 115 ± 18 Bq m-3) and from below the LLD to 122 ± 10 Bq m-3 (mean 48 ± 6 Bq·m-3), respectively. The annual average effective dose was estimated to be 3.7 ± 0.5 mSv yr-1. The soil-gas radon concentrations fell within the range from 1.07 ± 0.28 to 8.02 ± 0.65 kBq·m-3 (mean 3.07 ± 1.09 kBq·m-3). Finally, indoor radon maps were generated by ArcGIS software over a grid of 1 × 1 km2 using three different interpolation techniques. In grid cells where no data was observed, the arithmetic mean was used to predict a mean indoor radon concentration. Accordingly, inverse distance weighting (IDW) was proven to be more suitable for predicting mean indoor radon concentrations due to the lower mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean square error (RMSE). Meanwhile, the radiation health risk due to the residential exposure to radon and indoor gamma radiation exposure was also assessed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammademad Adelikhah
- Institute of Radiochemistry and Radioecology, University of Pannonia, 8200 Veszprém, Hungary; (M.A.); (A.S.)
| | - Amin Shahrokhi
- Institute of Radiochemistry and Radioecology, University of Pannonia, 8200 Veszprém, Hungary; (M.A.); (A.S.)
| | - Morteza Imani
- Materials and Nuclear Fuel Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, Tehran 11365-8486, Iran;
| | - Stanislaw Chalupnik
- Silesian Centre for Environmental Radioactivity, Central Mining Institute, plac Gwarków 1, 40-166 Katowice, Poland;
| | - Tibor Kovács
- Institute of Radiochemistry and Radioecology, University of Pannonia, 8200 Veszprém, Hungary; (M.A.); (A.S.)
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Mirdoraghi M, Einor D, Baghal Asghari F, Esrafili A, Heidari N, Mohammadi AA, Yousefi M. Assess the annual effective dose and contribute to risk of lung cancer caused by internal radon 222 in 22 regions of Tehran, Iran using geographic information system. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCE & ENGINEERING 2020; 18:211-220. [PMID: 32399233 PMCID: PMC7203366 DOI: 10.1007/s40201-020-00454-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Radon gas is one of the most influential sources of indoor exposure. All its physical properties together make it a significant risk factor for lung cancer in the population. The research aims are outlined as (1) to measure the radon concentration in Tehran city and compare results with the international standards (2) to determine spatial distribution of radon gas concentration using Geographical Information System (GIS) software and (3) to estimate the annual effective dose and potential risk of lung cancer by radon-222 in Tehran city. In this study, 800 Alpha Track detectors were installed in houses in 22 regions of Tehran city and retrieved after 3 months. The measurements were repeated for spring and summer and autumn seasons. The annual effective dose and risk of lung cancer were assessed using standard equations. Data were analyzed using SPSS 20. Result showed the minimum and maximum radon concentration were observed in and Ghalee-kobra (0.13 Bq.m-3) and Charbagh-ponak district (661.11 Bq.m-3) respectively. There was no observed relationship between radon concentration and houses' model, cracking condition and constructionn materials. Expectedly, the storehouses and basements had significantly higher (P = 0.016) radon concentration than occupied rooms. The min and max of the estimated annual effective dose were 0.65 and 2.03 mSv, respectively. Result showed that around 5% of the sampling sites had higher level of radon than the maximum allowed by EPA. A rough estimation of the expected radon-attributed lung cancer incidences yielded approximately 5958 cases in the total population of Tehran every year. In view of the growing trend in cancer incidences, appropriate measures addressing radon should be undertaken in areas of increased exposure to this noble gas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Mirdoraghi
- Department of Radiology and Radiotherapy, School of Allied Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Daniel Einor
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC USA
| | - Farzaneh Baghal Asghari
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Esrafili
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Neda Heidari
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Akbar Mohammadi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran
| | - Mahmood Yousefi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Student Research Committee, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Shahsavani S, Shamsedini N, Tabatabaei HR, Hoseini M. Indoor radon concentrations in residential houses, processing factories, and mines in Neyriz, Iran. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCE & ENGINEERING 2019; 17:979-987. [PMID: 32030168 PMCID: PMC6985355 DOI: 10.1007/s40201-019-00413-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to determine radon concentrations in mines, stone processing factories, residential houses, and public areas, as well as calculating its effective dose in Neyriz, Iran. METHOD A total of 74 alpha Track detectors (CR-39 detector) were installed at the desired locations based on the US-EPA's protocol. After 3 months the detectors were collected and delivered to a Radon Reference Laboratory for analyzing. RESULTS Mean ± SD, minimum and maximum radon concentrations in the sampling buildings were 29.93 ± 12.63, 10.33, and 66.76 Bq/m3, respectively. The effective annual dose was calculated to be 0.75 mSv/year, which was lower than the recommended value. Significant positive correlations were found between radon concentrations and some studied variables including smoking cigarettes, number of cigarettes smoked, duration of smoking, building's age, number of floors, having cracks, use of colors in the building, use of ceramic for flooring, use of stone for flooring, and gas consumption. The number of cigarettes smoked by the residents was the most important predictor of radon concentrations. Radon concentrations were lower than standard values in all sampling locations. CONCLUSION It is necessary to conduct further studies in the field of regional geology and determine the sources that release radon in these areas to prevent further increases in radon concentration due to the proximity and plurality of mines and factories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samaneh Shahsavani
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Narges Shamsedini
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Fars water and Wastewater Company, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Hamid Reza Tabatabaei
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hoseini
- Research Center for Health Sciences, Institute of Health, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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Sherafat S, Nemati Mansour S, Mosaferi M, Aminisani N, Yousefi Z, Maleki S. First indoor radon mapping and assessment excess lifetime cancer risk in Iran. MethodsX 2019; 6:2205-2216. [PMID: 31667121 PMCID: PMC6812403 DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2019.09.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 09/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Radon (222Rn) is believed to be the main contributor to lung cancer second to smoking. The first national indoor radon map derived from some scattered regional radon surveys in Iran. The arithmetic mean of indoor radon concentration was calculated to 117.4 ± 97.7 Bq/m3. The mean excess life time cancer risk (ELCR) values were found to be in the range of 0.1%-4.26%, with an overall average value of 1.01%. The mean radon-induced lung cancer risk was 46.8 per million persons. Absence of sufficient indoor radon data showed that national wide monitoring programs should be activated in uncovered areas. Meanwhile, in order to provide further baseline values for radon mapping, we attempted to survey the radon levels inside 50 dwellings of Shabestar County in northwest of Iran. The investigation was also focused on the effects of some buildings related variables. The radon levels recorded varied from 3.92 to 520.12 Bq/m3, with a mean value of 56.19 ± 45.96 Bq/m3. In 9% of dwellings radon concentration exceeded 100 Bq/m3, the limit recommended by the World Health Organization. The average annual effective dose received by the residents of studied area was calculated to be 1.4 mSv. The ELCR was estimated to be 0.54%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samira Sherafat
- Health Faculty, Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Sepideh Nemati Mansour
- Health Faculty, Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Health and Environment Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Mosaferi
- Health and Environment Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Tabriz Health Services Management Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Nayyereh Aminisani
- Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran
| | - Zabihollah Yousefi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health and Health Sciences Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
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Niranjan RS, Ningappa C, Yashaswini T. CONCENTRATION OF RADON IN DWELLINGS OF HEMAVATHI RIVER BASIN, KARNATAKA, INDIA. RADIATION PROTECTION DOSIMETRY 2018; 181:269-276. [PMID: 29462431 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncy023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Indoor radon, thoron and their progeny levels were measured in various types of dwellings during 2016-17 in Hemavathi river basin, Karnataka by using solid state nuclear track detector based pin-hole dosemeters; dwellings of various types were chosen for the measurement. The dosemeters containing the detector (LR-115, Type II Film) was used for this purpose. The concentration of indoor radon in the study area varied from 30.72 to 196.08 Bq m-3 with a median of 83.13 Bq m-3 and thoron concentration varied from 15.56 to 227.78 Bq m-3. Higher concentrations of radon and its progeny were observed in granite flooring and cement roofing dwellings compared to other types of dwellings. The reason for higher concentration of indoor radon and its progeny is due to activity of radium present in granite and provision of less ventilation in dwellings. The equilibrium equivalent radon, thoron concentrations and annual effective dose are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- R S Niranjan
- Department of Physics, Government First Grade College for Women, Holenarasipura, Hassan District, Karnataka, India
- Department of Physics, VTU RC, Vidya Vikas Institute of Engineering and Technology, Mysuru, Karnataka, India
| | - C Ningappa
- Department of Physics, VTU RC, Vidya Vikas Institute of Engineering and Technology, Mysuru, Karnataka, India
| | - T Yashaswini
- Department of Physics, VTU RC, Vidya Vikas Institute of Engineering and Technology, Mysuru, Karnataka, India
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Ferri GM, Intranuovo G, Cavone D, Corrado V, Birtolo F, Tricase P, Fuso R, Vilardi V, Sumerano M, L'abbate N, Vimercati L. Estimates of the Lung Cancer Cases Attributable to Radon in Municipalities of Two Apulia Provinces (Italy) and Assessment of Main Exposure Determinants. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:ijerph15061294. [PMID: 29925825 PMCID: PMC6025095 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15061294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Revised: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 06/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Indoor radon exposure is responsible for increased incidence of lung cancer in communities. Building construction characteristics, materials, and environmental determinants are associated with increased radon concentration at specific sites. In this study, routine data related to radon measurements available from the Apulia (Italy) Regional Environmental Protection Agency (ARPA) were combined with building and ground characteristics data. An algorithm was created based on the experience of miners and it was able to produce estimates of lung cancer cases attributable to radon in different municipalities with the combined data. In the province of Lecce, the sites with a higher risk of lung cancer are Campi Salentina and Minervino, with 1.18 WLM (working level months) and 1.38 WLM, respectively, corresponding to lung cancer incidence rates of 3.34 and 3.89 per 10 × 103 inhabitants. The sites in the province of Bari with higher risks of lung cancer are Gravina di Puglia and Locorotondo, measuring 1.89 WLM and 1.22 WLM, respectively, which correspond to an incidence rate of lung cancer of 5.36 and 3.44 per 10 × 103 inhabitants. The main determinants of radon exposure are whether the buildings were built between 1999 and 2001, were one-room buildings with porous masonry, and were built on soil consisting of pelvis, clayey sand, gravel and conglomerates, calcarenites, and permeable lithotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Maria Ferri
- Unit of Occupational Medicine, Regional University Hospital "Policlinico-Giovanni XXIII", Section "B. Ramazzini", Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari, Piazza G, Cesare, 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
| | - Graziana Intranuovo
- Unit of Occupational Medicine, Regional University Hospital "Policlinico-Giovanni XXIII", Section "B. Ramazzini", Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari, Piazza G, Cesare, 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
| | - Domenica Cavone
- Unit of Occupational Medicine, Regional University Hospital "Policlinico-Giovanni XXIII", Section "B. Ramazzini", Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari, Piazza G, Cesare, 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
| | - Vincenzo Corrado
- Unit of Occupational Medicine, Regional University Hospital "Policlinico-Giovanni XXIII", Section "B. Ramazzini", Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari, Piazza G, Cesare, 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
| | - Francesco Birtolo
- Unit of Occupational Medicine, Regional University Hospital "Policlinico-Giovanni XXIII", Section "B. Ramazzini", Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari, Piazza G, Cesare, 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
| | - Paolo Tricase
- Unit of Occupational Medicine, Regional University Hospital "Policlinico-Giovanni XXIII", Section "B. Ramazzini", Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari, Piazza G, Cesare, 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
| | - Raffaele Fuso
- Unit of Occupational Medicine, Regional University Hospital "Policlinico-Giovanni XXIII", Section "B. Ramazzini", Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari, Piazza G, Cesare, 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
| | - Valeria Vilardi
- Unit of Occupational Medicine, Regional University Hospital "Policlinico-Giovanni XXIII", Section "B. Ramazzini", Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari, Piazza G, Cesare, 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
| | - Marilena Sumerano
- Unit of Occupational Medicine, Regional University Hospital "Policlinico-Giovanni XXIII", Section "B. Ramazzini", Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari, Piazza G, Cesare, 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
| | - Nicola L'abbate
- Unit of Occupational Medicine, Regional University Hospital "Policlinico-Giovanni XXIII", Section "B. Ramazzini", Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari, Piazza G, Cesare, 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
| | - Luigi Vimercati
- Unit of Occupational Medicine, Regional University Hospital "Policlinico-Giovanni XXIII", Section "B. Ramazzini", Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari, Piazza G, Cesare, 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
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