Effect of Soil Moisture on Seasonal Variation in Indoor Radon Concentration: Modelling and Measurements in 326 Finnish Houses

Arvela, H; Holmgren, Olli; Hänninen, Pekka

doi:10.1093/rpd/ncv182

Cited by 26 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…As it was shown in a number of studies in various countries, indoor radon concentrations typically vary with the seasons [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. Higher indoor radon concentration in winter than in summer in the majority of houses is the general observation of radon seasonal variation studies in various countries with temperate climate [11,15,[24][25][26][27][28]. Daraktchieva et al [29] consider such pattern of seasonal variation as a normal seasonality of indoor radon.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal Variation of Radon Concentrations in Russian Residential High-Rise Buildings

et al. 2021

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Assessment of the annual radon concentration is often required in indoor radon surveys of territories and individual dwellings for comparison with reference levels, studying factors affecting radon accumulation in dwellings, assessment of exposure in epidemiological studies, etc. The indoor radon surveys were carried out in multistorey buildings in eight Russian cities using solid state nuclear track detectors with an exposure period of three months. For these surveys, the estimation of annual indoor radon concentration was required to compare radon levels in buildings of high- and low-energy-efficiency classes located in different cities. To develop approaches to seasonal normalization in high-rise buildings, long-term one-hour radon concentration series obtained applying radon-monitors in 20 flats were analyzed. The dependency of indoor radon concentration on the indoor–outdoor temperature difference was studied taking into account the known natural, technogenic and anthropogenic factors affecting radon levels. The developed model of seasonal variations in multistorey buildings includes winter, summer, and demi-season periods, which differ both in ventilation intensity and dependency of radon concentration on the temperature difference. The developed model allows to estimate annual radon concentration taking into account the actual distribution of outdoor temperatures during the exposure of the track detectors.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal Variation of Radon Concentrations in Russian Residential High-Rise Buildings

et al. 2021

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“…The total annual effective dose for humans from radon inhalation in buildings may reach values above 8 mSv per year 7 . As proved before, the radon emission from the ground surface is governed by complex processes and is dependent on many factors 8 – 10 . In regions that are not influenced by human activity, such as forests or agricultural wasteland, radon emissions from the soil surface depend mostly on geological characteristics 11 and soil moisture 12 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 73%

Radon emission fluctuation as a result of biochar application into the soil

Szewczak

Jednoróg

Wołoszczuk

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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The presented research was focused on the analysis of the impact of biochar application into the soil on the radon exhalation process as a new issue of radiation protection in agriculture. Field measurements of the radon exhalation rate utilizing two methods—active and passive as well as laboratory measurements of the radon emanation coefficient were performed. In laboratory a soil samples with sunflower husk biochar were analysed using the accumulation chamber technique. At the final step the assessment of the effective dose for humans coming from radon exhalation from soil depending on biochar dose applied were evaluated. The doses of biochar applied in the analysed experimental fields were 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 Mg ha−1. The results show that biochar application into the soil contribute to a decrease in the emanation coefficient from a value around 7% to less than 2% with a simultaneous decrease in the radon exhalation rate from 4.4 to 14.8 mBq m−2 s−1 when the biochar dose increase from 0 to 100 Mg ha−1.

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“…These factors include soil moisture, indoor and outdoor temperatures, wind speed, and building characteristics. These characteristics vary regionally and can cause regional differences in seasonal radon trends (Arvela, Holmgren, and Hanninen 2016). In addition, some studies have found an association between heating type and radon concentrations, and one EPA study found that heating in the winter lowers indoor concentrations of radon progeny (Hans and Lyon 1986).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect modification of ambient particle mortality by radon: A time series analysis in 108 U.S. cities

Blomberg

Coull

Jhun

et al. 2019

Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association

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Numerous studies have reported a positive association between ambient fine particles and daily mortality, but little is known about the particle properties or environmental factors that may contribute to these effects. This study assessed potential modification of radon on PM 2.5 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <2.5 μm)-associated daily mortality in 108 U.S. cities using a two-stage statistical approach. First, city-and season-specific PM 2.5 mortality risks were estimated using over-dispersed Poisson regression models. These PM 2.5 effect estimates were then regressed against mean city-level residential radon concentrations to estimate overall PM 2.5 effects and potential modification by radon. Radon exposure estimates based on measured short-term basement concentrations and modeled long-term living-area concentrations were both assessed. Exposure to PM 2.5 was associated with total, cardiovascular, and respiratory mortality in both the spring and the fall. In addition, higher mean city-level radon concentrations increased PM 2.5-associated mortality in the spring and fall. For example, a 10 µg/m 3 increase in PM 2.5 in the spring at the 10th percentile of cityaveraged short-term radon concentrations (21.1 Bq/m 3) was associated with a 1.92% increase in total mortality (95% CI: 1.29, 2.55), whereas the same PM 2.5 exposure at the 90th radon percentile (234.2 Bq/ m 3) was associated with a 3.73% increase in total mortality (95% CI: 2.87, 4.59). Results were robust to adjustment for spatial confounders, including average planetary boundary height, population age, percent poverty and tobacco use. While additional research is necessary, this study suggests that radon enhances PM 2.5 mortality. This is of significant regulatory importance, as effective regulation should consider the increased risk for particle mortality in cities with higher radon levels. Implications: In this large national study, city-averaged indoor radon concentration was a significant effect modifier of PM 2.5-associated total, cardiovascular, and respiratory mortality risk in the spring and fall. These results suggest that radon may enhance PM 2.5-associated mortality. In addition, local radon concentrations partially explain the significant variability in PM 2.5 effect estimates across U.S. cities, noted in this and previous studies. Although the concept of PM as a vector for radon progeny is feasible, additional research is needed on the noncancer health effects of radon and its potential interaction with PM. Future air quality regulations may need to consider the increased risk for particle mortality in cities with higher radon levels.

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Effect of Soil Moisture on Seasonal Variation in Indoor Radon Concentration: Modelling and Measurements in 326 Finnish Houses

Cited by 26 publications

References 30 publications

Seasonal Variation of Radon Concentrations in Russian Residential High-Rise Buildings

Seasonal Variation of Radon Concentrations in Russian Residential High-Rise Buildings

Radon emission fluctuation as a result of biochar application into the soil

Effect modification of ambient particle mortality by radon: A time series analysis in 108 U.S. cities

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