Estimation of indoor radon and the annual effective dose from building materials by ionization chamber measurement

Abstract

Indoor radon and its annual effective dose from the building materials commonly used in Thailand were reported. Radon emission from samples collected in the closed chamber was measured by an ionization chamber. Indoor radon and the annual effective dose were calculated from radon concentration in the closed chamber. Granite yields the highest annual effective dose. Three samples of granite shown the annual effective dose higher than the annual exposure limit for the general public of 1 mSv year -1 recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection. Applying appropriate surface coating, the radon emission from some building materials has decreased substantially.

Figure 1: Origin of the building materials. (A) NM materials: (1) Concrete, (2) Cement, (3) Marble, (4) Slate, (5) Granite, (6) Ceramic, (7) Wood, (8) Aggregate, (9) Zircon. (B) PM materials: (10) Gypsum.

“…As a result of this, the annual effective dose ranged from 0.9 µSv y −1 for ceramic to 323 µSv y −1 for zircon. These values are in agreement with the worldwide range (Sola et al, 2014; United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), 2016).…”

Measurement of 222Rn Exhalation Rate from Natural Rubber Latex Pillows Randomed from Online Market in Thailand

“…and exhalation rates were 0.31 and 10.45 Bq m -2 h -1 for concrete and PG-containing concrete, respectively. Sola et al [9] has also conducted and reported the radon concentration from building materials using in the Bangkok. The radon concentrations were between 12 ± 10 and 492 ± 12 Bq m -3 , the radon exhalation rates were range 0.060 ± 0.004 to 11.90 ± 0.31 Bq m -2 h -1 and high values were from the group of granite tile samples.…”