Inner wall filler as a singular and significant source of indoor radon pollution in heritage buildings: An exhalation method-based approach

Vázquez, Borja Frutos; Martín-Consuegra, Fernando; Alonso, Carmen; Pérez, Gloria; Peón, Joaquín; Ruano-Raviña, Alberto; Barros, Juan M.; Santorun, Ana M.

doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2021.108005

Cited by 15 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…), geological formation and fault activities. The minaret with the highest ICR (2809 Bq/m 3 ) in the Marmaris district is made of volcanic rocks, despite the fact that the Tower of Hercules, built in the Roman Period in the city of Corunna in Spain, is made of granites and has a very high IRC (149.7 mBq/m 2 .s) (Frutos et al, 2021). Minarets are generally built with such building materials as concrete, volcanic rock, red brick, limestone, etc., even though there are different geological basement rocks (predominantly volcanic rocks, peridotites, limestones, etc.)…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Geological and Geostatistical Modeling of Geogenic Radon Potential of Minarets in Muğla Province (SW Turkey)

ZEYBEK

Kop

2022

International Journal of Environment and Geoinformatics

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Radon (222Rn), derived from the Uranium (238U) series and emitted from Geological Formation (soil, rock) (Qg), Fault (Qf) and Construction Material (Qm), which cannot be detected by the five senses, is an inert radioactive gas. Radon negatively affects people's health (such as lung cancer) as a result of excessive (>200 Bq/m3) accumulation in buildings. The aim of this study is to measure the radon emission concentrations of the components (Qg, Qf, Qm) that make up the Total Radon Gas Concentration (Qt) in the building (for the purpose of this study, mosque minarets) close to the fault or the possible fault in Muğla province (SW Turkey) and order their sizes. The Indoor Radon Concentration (IRC) of 841 minarets in Muğla province was measured with a portable RadonEye device (made in South Korea). At least 5 Soil Radon Concentration (SRC) measurements were made perpendicular to the fault lines near 14 minarets with a portable Markus 10 device (made in Sweden). About 10% of the 841 minarets were found to be above the European Indoor Radon Reference Value (EIRRV) (200 Bq/m3). When evaluated according to the 13 districts, it is seen that the district with the highest IRC in the 841 minarets is Marmaris (Çetibeli town, 2809 Bq/m3), and the district with the lowest is Ula (Armutçuk town, 217 Bq/m3). The highest IRC was measured inside a minaret made of volcanic rocks in the Marmaris district (Çetibeli town, 2809 Bq/m3). The lowest SRC was obtained in Datça district (Kızlan town, 5830 Bq/m3) where serpentinites outcropped, and the highest SRC was found in Bodrum district (Gürece town, 120000 Bq/m3) where volcanic rocks outcropped. It has been determined that there is a Qf>Qg>Qm relationship between the magnitudes of the factors (Qg, Qf, Qm) affecting Qt in the minarets close to the fault and possible faults. As a result, IRC measurements in all buildings where people live should be done periodically and regularly by the relevant institutions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…al., 2017) and Turkey (400 Bq/m 3 ) (Çelebi et al, 2014). The sources of IRC are Geological Formation (soil, rock) (Qg) (Coletti et al, 2022), Fault (Qf) (Neri et al, 2019) and Building Material (Qm) (Frutos et al, 2021;Wang et al, 2022).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geological and Geostatistical Modeling of Geogenic Radon Potential of Minarets in Muğla Province (SW Turkey)

ZEYBEK

Kop

2022

International Journal of Environment and Geoinformatics

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“…Finally, in this study, indoor air quality has been defined only with the CO 2 parameter since with only this variable we inferred ventilation patterns (determinant aspect in COVID-19 lockdown). VOCs [94,105], radon [106,107] and fungi [108], which would be desirable parameters to collect, were not measured in favour of respecting the social and physical distancing and restricted mobility required by the Spanish Royal Decree on the State of Alarm. In addition, the opportunity to analyze such an abrupt and unusual event (confinement) elicited the haste in making decisions about measurements and user-centered techniques, the difficulty of access to housing, as well as the availability of resources and households and their willingness to collaborate in what was seen as a unique and unprecedented extreme situation.…”

Section: Goals and Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Indoor Environmental Quality and Consumption Patterns before and during the COVID-19 Lockdown in Twelve Social Dwellings in Madrid, Spain

et al. 2021

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This article analyses the situation that prevailed in 12 dwellings located on the outskirts of Madrid during Spain’s state of emergency. How did 24/7 occupation affect the quality of indoor air and power consumption patterns? The mixed method used (surveys and instrumental monitoring) pragmatically detected the variation in consumption, comfort and indoor air quality patterns before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The characteristics initially in place and household predisposition had a conclusive effect on such variations. The starting conditions, including household composition, habits and the way daily activities were performed, differed widely, logically affecting power consumption: 8/12 case studies increase occupancy density by more than 25 percent; 11/12 improve thermal comfort; 10/12 improve air quality but not necessarily translate in a sufficient ventilation practices; air quality was lower in the bedrooms on the whole; only 4/12 case studies use the potential of passive measures; only one household adopted energy savings strategies; 10/12 case studies increase electric power consumption but none of the dwellings was fitted with a renewable power generation system. The conclusion drawn is that, despite starting conditions differing widely, household composition, habits (including performance of daily activities performance) and power consumption also played an active role in the end result. This approach allowed to integrate qualitative and quantitative findings on indoor environmental quality (IEQ), energy use and households’ behavior. The objective data on the energy situation of the case studies not only is useful for the study, but also for potential enrollment in energy rehabilitation programs, such as the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

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“…At the same time, old buildings lack effective isolation from the ground. Although the radon diffusion coefficient of bricks is about one-tenth of the radon diffusion coefficient of soils [23], traditional masonry walls exhibit small cracks and construction flaws, which can increase radon entries [24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radon Transport, Accumulation Patterns, and Mitigation Techniques Applied to Closed Spaces

et al. 2022

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In this study, different techniques for the mitigation of radon gas in indoor spaces were investigated. For this purpose, two different scenarios of a public building were analyzed: two symmetrical facility galleries and a reverberation chamber. Although most workplaces in this building have low radon levels, the complex structure houses spaces have very high radon concentrations. The study also included the surrounding areas of these spaces. The radon concentration and differential pressures were measured, and different mitigation techniques were applied: sealing, balanced ventilation, pressurization with the introduction of fresh air, and depressurization over each space. The pressurization solution was proven to be the most effective way to reduce radon concentration in both scenarios. The introduction of fresh air diluted the radon concentration, and the slight increase in the pressure reduced the entry of gas by the advection mechanism. On the other hand, the depressurization technique was the least effective mitigation technique, as it generated a negative pressure gradient that facilitated a higher radon flux from the source. Therefore, before applying any mitigation technique, it is necessary not only to study the space to be remediated but also the possible impact on neighboring spaces.

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Inner wall filler as a singular and significant source of indoor radon pollution in heritage buildings: An exhalation method-based approach

Cited by 15 publications

References 56 publications

Geological and Geostatistical Modeling of Geogenic Radon Potential of Minarets in Muğla Province (SW Turkey)

Geological and Geostatistical Modeling of Geogenic Radon Potential of Minarets in Muğla Province (SW Turkey)

Indoor Environmental Quality and Consumption Patterns before and during the COVID-19 Lockdown in Twelve Social Dwellings in Madrid, Spain

Radon Transport, Accumulation Patterns, and Mitigation Techniques Applied to Closed Spaces

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