Determination of radon exhalation from construction materials using VOC emission test chambers

Richter, Matthias; Jann, Oliver; Kemski, J.; Schneider, Ulrich; Krocker, C.; Hoffmann, B.

doi:10.1111/ina.12031

Cited by 10 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Several methods have been developed regarding radon measurement techniques so far. These methods [55,64,116,[153][154][155][156][157][158][159] involve measurement with activated charcoal, ionization chambers, the collector method, Lucas cells, electrostatic collection, solid-state trace scraping detectors, electret ion chambers, and continuous radon monitors. The basic principle of most of these methods is based on counting the alpha particles resulting from radon's decay products.…”

Section: Radon Gas Activity Concentration Measurement Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radon, Concrete, Buildings and Human Health—A Review Study

Bulut,

Şahin

2024

Buildings

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A comprehensive evaluation of the results obtained according to the measurement of radon gas in buildings and concrete, which is the most consumed material in the world after water, in accessible studies carried out in the last 40 years is the main objective of this study. The paper additionally aims to address the gap in the literature by comparatively determining which parameters affect radon–concrete and radon–building relationships. The scientific knowledge compiled within the scope of this article was presented under the main headings of radon and radon gas measurements in concrete and buildings. Radon gas, also known as the “invisible killer”, is considered the second most important cause of lung cancer after smoking (the gas is responsible for 3–14% of lung cancer cases in the world). The results determined that radon concentration limits have been applied in the range of 100–400 Bqm−3 in houses and 100–3700 Bqm−3 in workplaces. Studies conducted on the exhalation rate of radon showed that the radon exhalation rate of concrete may be in the range of 0.23–510 Bqm−2 h−1. The results of indoor radon concentration measurements revealed that values between 4.6 Bqm−3 and 583 Bqm−3 were obtained. Despite the existing literature, some researchers state that there is an urgent need for an improved and widely accepted protocol based on reliable measurement techniques to standardize measurements of the radon exhalation rate of construction materials and the indoor radon concentration of buildings.

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Section: Radon Gas Activity Concentration Measurement Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radon, Concrete, Buildings and Human Health—A Review Study

Bulut,

Şahin

2024

Buildings

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“…The role of building materials as a source of indoor radon, typically concrete components [76][77][78][79][80] such as specific supplementary cementitious materials or aggregates, specific ceramic or rock tiles [81], specific masonry blocks [76][77][78], and fillers for historical vaults, thick bearing walls and floors [82], is generally minor compared to the soil. The contribution of building materials to the world's average radon concentration in dwellings is estimated at around 15-20%, corresponding to a radon concentration of around 10-15 Bq m −3 [83].…”

Section: Radon In Buildingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanisms of Diffusion of Radon in Buildings and Mitigation Techniques

Baltrocchi,

Maggi,

Dal Lago

et al. 2023

Sustainability

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Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas found in rocks, soil, and building materials. Precisely because of its gaseous nature, it tends to concentrate in indoor environments, resulting in a danger to human health. The effects of radon have been described, documented, and attested by the international scientific community and recognized as the second cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking and in synergy with it. In December 2013, the Council of the European Union issued Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom, which establishes basic safety standards relating to protection against the dangers deriving from exposure to ionized radiation and managing the health risks associated with radon. In addition, designing buildings against radon risk in synergy with the use of low environmental impact materials is one of the objectives of building sustainability certifications. This work presents how radon creeps into buildings and reports several technologies that are needed to remove and mitigate the risk associated with indoor radon in existing and new buildings.

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“…In the last years, several researches were conducted regarding the evaluation of the radioactivity from rocks and building materials, assessing the contribution of the outcrops for the background radioactivity and potential hazard from building stones and other materials (Ngachin et al 2008;Nuccetelli et al 2012;Trevisi et al 2012;Sayın 2103;Richter et al 2013Pereira et al 2017Pillai et al 2017;Guillén et al 2018;Shohda et al 2018;Lyngkhoi and Nongkynrih 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is there any health danger by radioactivity on the use of dimensional stones?

et al. 2022

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Natural building stones must be analysed according to a legally defined procedure to prove that the natural radioactivity they emit is below the so-called activity index given by European Commission. This applies in particular to rooms inside buildings or apartments that are used by people for longer periods of time. Gamma spectrometric measurements were determined for all nuclides involved, 40K, 226Ra and 232Th, which were finally summed up to a total dose for each sample. Measurements are prescribed to check whether the reference value of 1 milli-Sievert per year can be exceeded by radionuclides in the respective building materials. Natural stones, 82 in total from all over the world, such as various igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, which are currently used as building stones for interior and exterior finishing, as kitchen worktops, floor tiles, wall cladding, table tops, furniture cover plates, paving stones, terrace slabs, paving slabs, stairs, street furniture, etc., were selected. Additionally, Rn-222 and Rn-220 exhaled per unit mass were determined simultaneously on 54 selcted from the total 82 rocks by using the accumulation method. In addition, our results were statistically compared with literature data, according to which fesic igneous rocks, gneisses and clay mineral-rich rocks have the highest potential to be radiologically threatening. Limestones, marbles, quartzites, mafic igneous rocks and sandstones are generally less radiologically harmful, but even here there are exceptions depending on the geological formation history and mineralogical composition. The highest activity index of 1.87 was determined for the gneiss Giallo California. Model calculations to determine the expected radiation exposure for a human were used by applying two less complex approaches. Even with the extreme model “coffin”, which consists of the Gialo California, a human experiences only a maximum dose rate of 1.29 mSva−1, which is far below the maximum dose rate of 20 mSv a−1 allowed for occupational radiation exposure. The 220Rn and 222Rn are often neglected; however, their contribution to the dose rate received by the population may be significant. Model simulations for a room with 4 m × 3 m × 2.5 m where the walls and the floor coverd with tiles of 1 cm thickness show a maximum indoor radon concentration of less then 100 Bg m−3. With increase in thickness of the tiles up to 3 cm, 10 cm and 20 cm and for poorly ventilated rooms especially some granitoids, gneisses and the copper-rich shale are above the allowed limit of the European Commission.

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Determination of radon exhalation from construction materials using VOC emission test chambers

Cited by 10 publications

References 25 publications

Radon, Concrete, Buildings and Human Health—A Review Study

Radon, Concrete, Buildings and Human Health—A Review Study

Mechanisms of Diffusion of Radon in Buildings and Mitigation Techniques

Is there any health danger by radioactivity on the use of dimensional stones?

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