Indoor Radon-222 Concentration Measurements at Faculty of Education, Yafea, Aden University, Yemen, Using Cr-39 Nuclear Track Detector

Abstract

In this study, the activity concentration of indoor radon-222, annual effective dose, exhalation rate of radon, and relative risk of lung cancer are reported for different indoor buildings (students' dorms, teachers' dorms, offices, laboratories, library, lecture halls, and materials store) in Faculty of Education, Yafea, Aden University, Yemen. Sealed-can technique based on CR-39 nuclear tracks detector was distributed to radon gas survey. Twenty six radon detectors were mounted in seven buildings. The Radon measurements were performed for 90 days between December 2020 and March 2021. The results showed that the radon concentration ranges from 23,18 Bq m-3 to 66.49 Bq m-3 with an average value 35.86 Bq m-3, the annual effective dose ranges from 0.6 mSv y-1 to 1.639 mSv y-1 with an average value 0.979 mSv y-1, the exhalation rate ranges from 10.03 m Bq m-2 h-1 to 28.50 mBq m-2 h-1 with an average value 15.68 mBq m-2 h-1 and relative risk of lung cancer ranges from 1.02 to 1.06 with an average value 1.03. A strong correlation coefficient has been observed between radon concentration and radon exhalation rate. All of the values revealed in the study were of nominal state (that is less than allowed global values) and thus have no risk for the population living in these buildings.