Characterization of ²²²Rn and meteorological parameters in Uro houses at South Kordofan state

Abstract

This study was carried out to assess and map indoor radon concentration and to estimate radiation dose in Uro town in Sudan's South Kordofan state. A portable radon meter (RRA-01M-03), equipped with simple sensors of meteorological parameters has been used for carrying out radon measurement. The annual absorbed dose from the corresponding measured radon concentration was calculated using dose rate conversion factors of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR). The corresponding annual effective dose and equivalent dose to the lungs were estimated. Measured activity concentrations of 222Rn, annual absorbed dose, annual effective dose and equivalent dose to the lungs were found in the range 20–4482 Bq/m3, 0.32–70.67 mSv/y, 0.76–169.61 mSv−y and 0.16 × 10−7 to 35,856 × 3.5856 × 10−11 mSv−y, with geometric mean 109.43 Bq/m3, 1.73, 4.16 and 1.1 × 10−7 mSv−y, respectively. Upon comparing the results with global data, it was found with the exception of six samples, the obtained values fall far below the action level of 200–600 Bq/m3 recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection. However, the geometric mean is higher than the reported average global indoor radon concentration. Meteorological parameters were measured and no correlation was noted between radon concentration and these parameters. The overall annual effective dose was higher than the UNSCEAR recommended reference dose level of 1.0 mSv−y.

Environmental radon mapping in Sudan, orderly review

“…Exposure to 222 Rn and their daughter are allegedly related to the risen risk of promoting lung cancer [47]. From the result of this review, the highest level of indoor radon range was recorded in South Kordofan State (Uro Zone), while the lower average level was observed in Medani Gezira State [18]. This great difference is principally associated with the materials from which each home is built as well as the geological structure of the area.…”

“…Scientists around the world were achieved various health studies to evaluate the severity of lung cancer owing to the 222 Rn [12]. In Sudan some few efforts have been made to measure radon in air, soils, building materials, and water [13][14][15][16][17][18][19]. Numerous nationwide radon studies were conducted in European countries [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31], [32].…”

Indoor radon concentrations in Al-Hasahisa and Rufaa towns in the central part of Sudan

“…Many investigations carried out in selected regions to study radon concentration in soil, building materials, water and indoor air in some parts of Sudan [3,4,5,7,8,9,11,12,13,21,23,24]. In this study, effort has been taken to estimate indoor radon concentration from (276) measurements from Al Hasahisa town (143 measurements) and Rufaa town (133 measurements) in the central part of Sudan ( fig.…”

Measurements of Indoor Radon Levels and Dose Estimation and Lung Cancer Risk Determination for Workers in Health Centres of Some Towns in the Sudan

“…This work is also considered as the continuation of our other surveys conducted in Sudan aimed at establishing the base-line data on indoor, soil gas, building materials, and water radon concentrations in Sudan [25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39]. This survey is conducted to present and discuss the data obtained from radon measurements, effective dose and lung cancer risk carried out in health centers of Khartoum, Behri (Khartoum North), Wad Medani and Kassala towns in Sudan.…”