Determination and Evaluation of Radiological Risk due to Indoor Radon Concentration Levels in Offices at a University Faculty in Ibadan Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Exposure to Radon (222Rn) especially indoors has been identified as an important factor that could result in a health hazard, especially increase in risk of lung cancer. Assessment of the risk can only be done with accurate information on the radon level to which the people are exposed. This work was designed to measure indoor radon level in some offices in the Faculty of Science, University of Ibadan, using electret passive environmental radon monitor (E-PERM). Measurements were made at 54 locations in five departments of the faculty. Indoor radon concentrations in these Departments were found to vary from 39.70 to 126.77 Bq·m−3 with an average mean of 65 ± 20 Bq·m−3. The results obtained showed variation with ventilation and type of building materials. The average indoor radon concentration obtained was below the indoor radon concentration action level (148 Bq·m−3) recommended by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), hence no remedial action is required. The work however established the applicability of the technique for a much wider scope of indoor radon survey in the country.

How Do Different Locations, Floors and Aspects Influence Indoor Radon Concentrations? An Empirical Study Using Neural Networks for a University Campus in Northwestern Turkey

“…Thus, the south-facing offices at the basement and first floor of the FAS building have indoor 222 Rn concentrations slightly greater than the safe minimum standard by WHO [15] and below the action level (148 BqÁm À3 ) as recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) [17]. Mean indoor 222 Rn concentrations obtained in this study in the different faculty buildings and the different floor levels and aspect directions of the FAS building are in close agreement with mean indoor findings reported in the related literature [18,19]. Higher indoor 222 Rn concentrations in the lower floors than the upper floors as found by this study are also supported by reports by Kerry [20] and Virk [21].…”

Dataset on ground radiometric survey in part of the Eastern Dahomey Basin, SW Nigeria

“…Exposure of human to radiation varies from one geographical location to another due to the complexity of the earth formations and geology. Several radiogenic components analyses in air, water, soil, sediments, food and other materials have been carried out in Nigeria [8] , [9] , [10] , [11] , [12] , [13] , [14] , [15] , [16] , [17] , [18] . The variation in different geographical locations and the corresponding level of human exposure to radiation have also been reported.…”

Occupational exposure monitoring for radon in various manufacturing workplaces and underground public-use facilities in Korea

“…For long-term radon monitoring (>2 months), Radtrak2® alpha track detectors (Radon Environmental Management Corp., Maple Ridge, BC, Canada) were used, 45,46 and electret passive environmental radon monitor (E-PERM®) detectors (Rad Elec Inc., Frederick, MD, USA) were used for short-term monitoring (<7 days). 47,48 An active-type RAD7 radon detector (Durridge Company Inc., Billerica, MA, USA) was used for the real-time monitoring of radon concentrations per hour. The RAD7 radon detector, which was previously used in several studies, can measure realtime radon concentrations using a method of collecting alpha particle emissions by analysing the detector's internal spectrum using static electricity.…”