Measurement of Indoor Seasonal and Regional Radon (222Rn) Gas Activity in Çanakkale (Turkey)

Year 2022, Volume: 11 Issue: 3, 911 - 921, 30.09.2022

Aydın Büyüksaraç Muhammed Fatih Kuluöztürk

https://doi.org/10.17798/bitlisfen.1140727

Abstract

Radon gas, which undergoes radioactive decay, can cause damage to the lung tissue and lung cancer over time in indoor environments where it is inhaled. Radon gas radioactivity concentrations were measured using CR-39 passive solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTD) in the basement and ground floor simultaneously in summer and winter periods in 17 dwellings in Çanakkale (Turkey). Accordingly, an average of 163.67 Bq.m-3 in basements in summer, 63.26 Bq.m-3 in ground floors in summer, 148.73 Bq.m-3 in basements in winter, and 77.57 Bq.m-3 in ground floors in winter. In addition, annual effective dose (AEDE) values and lifetime cancer risk (ECLR) parameters were calculated using radon activity concentrations. Accordingly, the basement and mean AEDE values in the summer period were found to be 4.52 mSv.y-1 and 1.59 mSv.y-1, respectively. In winter, it was found as 3.75 mSv.y-1 and 1.95 mSv.y-1.

Keywords

Indoor Radon exhalation, Radiation, Annual effective dose, Excess lifetime cancer risk

Supporting Institution

Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, the Scientific Research Coordination Unit

Project Number

Project number: FHD-2021-3649

References

• [1] WHO (World Health Organisation), World Cancer Report. WHO Press, 2014.
• [2] NRC, Health Effects of Exposure to Radon. BEIR VI Report. National Academy Press, Washington, DC.), 1999.
• [3] K. R. Kellenbenz and K. M. Shakya, “Spatial and temporal variations in indoor radon concentrations in Pennsylvania, USA from 1988 to 2018”. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 233-106594, 2021.
• [4] M. Baskaran, “Radon: a tracer for geological, geophysical and geochemical studies. In: Radon: A Tracer for Geological, Geophysical and Geochemical Studies”. Springer International Publishing, 2016.
• [5] H. Kayakökü, Ş. Karatepe, M. Doğru, “Measurements of radioactivity and dose assessments in some building materials in Bitlis, Turkey”. Applied Radiation and Isotopes. 115, 172-179, 2016.
• [6] O. Baykara, Ş. Karatepe, M. Doğru, “Assessments of natural radioactivity and radiological hazards in construction materials used in Elazig, Turkey”. Radiation Measurements. 46, 153-158, 2011.
• [7] M. Rafique and M. H. Rathore, “Determination of radon exhalation from granite, dolerite and marbles decorative stones of the Azad Kashmir area, Pakistan”. Internatioanl Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 10:1083–1090, 2013.
• [8] E. Işık, A. Büyüksaraç, E. Avşar, M. F. Kuluöztürk, M. Günay, “Characteristics and properties of Bitlis ignimbrites and their environmental implications”. Materiales de Construccion. 70, 338, 2020.
• [9] E. Petermann and P. Bossew, “Mapping indoor radon hazard in Germany: The geogenic component”. Science of the Total Environment. 780, 146601, 2021.
• [10] A. Giraldo-Osorio, A. Ruano-Ravina, M. Pérez-Ríos, L. Varela-Lema, J. M. Barros-Dios and N.E. Arias-Ortiz, “Residential Radon in Manizales, Colombia: Results of a Pilot Study”. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 18(3): 1228, 2021.
• [11] L. Al-Awadi and A. R. Khan, “Indoor radon levels in schools and residential dwellings in Kuwait”. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 16:2627–2636, 2019.
• [12] M. Shahbazi Sehrani, S. Boudaqpoor, M. Mirmohammadi, “Measurement of indoor radon gas concentration and assessment of health risk in Tehran”. Iran International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 16:2619–2626, 2019.
• [13] B. Olsthoorn, T. Rönnqvist, C. Lau, S. Rajasekaran, T. Persson, M. Mansson, A.V. Balatsky, “Indoor radon exposure and its correlation with the radiometric map of uranium in Sweden”. Science of the Total Environment. 811, 151406, 2022.
• [14] H. Kumbur, O. Zeren, M. Köksal, B. Özçınar, “Investigation of Radon Levels in Houses in İçel”. Ecology Environment Journal, 25 (7): 25-31, 1997.
• [15] A. Bozkurt and E. Kam, “Indoor Radon Measurement in The City of Edirne, Turkey”. AIP Conference Proceedings, 899, 395, 2007. [16] Y. Örgün, N. Altınsoy, S. Y. Şahin, B. Ataksor, N. Çelebi, “A study of indoor radon levels in rural dwellings of Ezine (Çanakkale, Turkey) using solid-state nuclear track detectors”. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 131(3), 379–384, 2008.
• [17] B. Küçükömeroğlu, A. Kurnaz, N. Damla, U. Çevik, N. Çelebi, B. Ataksor, H. Taşkın, “Environmental radioactivity assessment for Bayburt, Turkey”. Journal of Radiological Protection, 29 (3): 417-428, 2009.
• [18] M. Mihci, A. Büyüksaraç, A. Aydemir, N. Çelebi, “Indoor and outdoor Radon concentration measurements in Sivas, Turkey, in comparison with geological setting”. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 101: 952-957, 2010.
• [19] E. Kapdan and N. Altınsoy, “A comparative study of indoor radon concentrations between dwellings and schools”. Radiation Physics and Chemistry. 81, 383-386, 2012.
• [20] N. Bingöldağ and P. Otansev, “Determination of natural radiation levels and lifetime cancer risk in Kırıkkale, Turkey”. Radiochimica Acta, 106 (5): 401-411, 2018.
• [21] M. F. Kuluöztürk, A. Büyüksaraç, F. Özbey, S. Yalçın and M. Doğru, “Determination of indoor radon gas levels in some buildings constructed with Ahlat stone in Ahlat/Bitlis”. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology. 16, 5033–5038, 2019.
• [22] O. Günay, S. Aközcan, F. Kulalı, “Measurement of indoor radon concentration and annual effective dose estimation for a university campus in Istanbul”. Arabian Journal of Geosciences. 12, 171, 2019.
• [23] E. Küçükönder, “Kahramanmaraş İlinde Bina İçi Mevsimsel Radon Gazı Aktivitesi Ölçümü”. BEU Journal of Science, 10 (3), 891-901, 2021.
• [24] RadoSYS, RadoSYS User Manual, Hungary, 2011.
• [25] United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), “Sources, effects and risks of ionization radiation. Report to The General Assembly, with Scientific Annexes B: Exposures from Natural Radiation Sources”. United Nations, New York, 2000.
• [26] International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), “Quantities and Units in Radiation Protection Dosimetry”. ICPR Report 51, 1993.
• [27] M. Çelik Karakaya, M. Doğru, N. Karakaya, H. Çingilli Vural, F. Kuluöztürk and S. Şahin Bal, “Radioactivity concentrations and dose assessments of therapeutic peloids from some Turkish spas”. Clay Minerals. 50, 221-232, 2015.
• [28] G. Ponciano-Rodriguez, M. I. Gaso, M. A. Armienta, C. Trueta, I. Morales, R. Alfaro and N. Segovia, “Indoor radon exposure and excess of lung cancer mortality: the case of Mexico-an ecological study”. Environmental Geochemical Health. 43, 221-234, 2021.
• [29] International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), “Protection against Rn-222 at home and at work International Commission on Radiological Protection Publication 65”. Ann. Pergamon Press, Oxford, Vol.23, No.2, 1993.
• [30] S. Y. Baş and S. A. Selçuk, “An Assessment on Measures for Reducing the Effects of Radon Gas in Buildings”. SETSCI Conference Proceedings, 4 (3): 207-212, 2019.