Estimation of health risk and effective dose based on measured radon levels in Korean homes and a qualitative assessment for residents’ radon awareness

Lee, Geon-Woo; Yang, Ji-Yeon; Kim, Hyojung; Kwon, Myung-Hee; Lee, Woo Suk; Kim, Gi-Hae; Shin, Dong Chun; Lim, Young-Wook

doi:10.1177/1420326x16664387

Cited by 15 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…It is a product of the degradation of uranium and has a radioactive half-life of about four days. Prolonged exposure to elevated radon concentrations has been linked to an increased lung cancer risk [2].…”

Section: Description Of Protocolmentioning

confidence: 99%

First indoor radon mapping and assessment excess lifetime cancer risk in Iran

et al. 2019

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Section: Description Of Protocolmentioning

confidence: 99%

First indoor radon mapping and assessment excess lifetime cancer risk in Iran

et al. 2019

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“…In 2016, qualitative assessment of the general knowledge level of Korean residents was conducted. In the form of a survey, a total of 620 residents were assessed about their general awareness regarding radon gas (Geon-Woo Lee, 2016). The survey revealed that residents of Korean homes had little awareness regarding the source of radon, exposure routes and contamination levels.…”

Section: Koreamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The survey revealed that residents of Korean homes had little awareness regarding the source of radon, exposure routes and contamination levels. The excess risk of lung cancer development after exposure for 70 years was determined to be 55 people for every 10,000 people in detached houses located in high radonlevel areas(Geon-Woo Lee, 2016).…”

Section: Koreamentioning

confidence: 99%

General radon gas knowledge test assessment for BCIT students

Zhang¹,

Sciences²,

Heacock³

et al. 2018

ephj

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Background Vancouver is located in a generally low-radon hazard zone. However, other parts of British Columbia such as the BC Interior or Northern BC are classified as high-radon hazard zone (or zone 1) due to the geological composition of rocks and soils in those areas. Despite the significant health risks associated with radon gas exposure, many BC residents and people across Canada have little to no knowledge regarding the topic. Since Post-secondary schools, such as the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), are places where knowledge is distributed and shared to our societies, it is important to assess students’ general knowledge background regarding radon gas. The result can then be extrapolated to the general populations. Methods An electronic survey was conducted to determine whether students in the six schools at BCIT have different background knowledge level regarding radon gas. The survey also determines students’ radon background knowledge based on different geographic regions they reside. The survey was conducted in-person at three main locations across BCIT’s Burnaby campus. It was administered using Google Forms and distributed to participants on Microsoft Surface 2. Results The One-way ANOVA statistical analysis result indicated that there is a significant difference in mean radon survey scores among the six various BCIT schools(p=0.009). In addition, the Tukey Test revealed that students from the School of Health Science have an average radon survey score which is significantly different when compared to students from the School of Business. However, it was found that there is no significant difference in the mean radon survey scores between the School of Business and other schools at BCIT. Nonetheless, it was evident that the School of Health Science students had relatively higher radon survey scores and thus, were more knowledgeable regarding radon gas compared to students from the other five schools. When analyzing survey scores among students residing in various geographic regions, the test showed that there is no significant difference in mean radon survey scores among BCIT students living in various geographic locations(p=0.46). Conclusion Based on the result of the study, the result showed that there is a significant difference in radon gas knowledge among BCIT students who majored in different schools. The School of Health Science students were more knowledgeable regarding the topic of radon gas compared to students in other schools. Nonetheless, all BCIT students achieved an average radon survey score of less than five out of ten, which was considered a failure score (Less than five out of ten). This showed that most BCIT students had very limited knowledge regarding radon gas and there were very limited amount of educational initiatives or campaigns available for students at BCIT. BCIT’s student association is recommended to create educational sessions across campus to raise student awareness regarding radon gas. At the community level, governments and various agencies such as the BC Lung Association need to work together to create radon awareness campaigns across BC and the rest of Canada. In order to get a more accurate representation of the radon gas knowledge level among people in BC, more research studies need to be conducted in other schools or general population groups.

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“…Lee et al. 26 carried out effective dose based on measured radon levels in Korean homes and a qualitative assessment for residents’ radon awareness. Ali et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Numerical investigation of radon dispersion and dose assessment for typical ventilation schemes with an air purifier

Xie

Wang

et al. 2020

Indoor and Built Environment

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Radon is a radioactive pollutant that could pose hazards to the surrounding environment and people due to its radioactive decay progenies. In this study, numerical simulations of radon dispersion were conducted under natural and mechanical ventilation with an air-purifier for radon. Factors such as the air supply speed, position and air supply angles of the purifier were considered. Results showed that the increase in the air supply speed from the purifier was an effective solution to reduce indoor radon pollution. The effect was better when the purifier was in the middle of the room. The purification effect was similar when the air supply changed under natural ventilation, while purification function was more effective when the air supply angle was 60° under the mechanical ventilation condition. An effective dose estimation involving typical ventilation schemes with radon purifier was evaluated. Using this approach, the radiation effect on occupants was computed. The calculated effective dose was 0.9 mSv y−1 when the air supply speed of the purifier was 0.2 m s−1 under natural ventilation. As a result, the effective dose calculated was under the annual effective dose limit of 3–10 mSv y−1 recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) for public exposure.

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Estimation of health risk and effective dose based on measured radon levels in Korean homes and a qualitative assessment for residents’ radon awareness

Cited by 15 publications

References 49 publications

First indoor radon mapping and assessment excess lifetime cancer risk in Iran

First indoor radon mapping and assessment excess lifetime cancer risk in Iran

General radon gas knowledge test assessment for BCIT students

Numerical investigation of radon dispersion and dose assessment for typical ventilation schemes with an air purifier

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