Radon concentration in conventional and new energy efficient multi-storey apartment houses: results of survey in four Russian cities

Abstract

During last decades, energy saving in new buildings became relevant within the energy efficiency strategies in various countries. Such energy efficient building characteristics as air tightening and low ventilation can compromise indoor air quality, in particular, increase radon concentration. In Russia, a significant part of the new buildings is the energy efficient multi-storey apartment houses. The aim of this study is to assess the significance of possible radon concentration increase in new energy efficient buildings in comparison with typical conventional multi-storey houses of previous periods. Radon surveys were conducted in Russian cities Ekaterinburg, Chelyabinsk, Saint-Petersburg and Krasnodar. The radon measurements were carried out in 478 flats using CR-39 nuclear track detectors. Energy efficiency index (EEI) was assigned to each house. All buildings were divided into six main categories. The smallest average radon concentration was observed in panel and brick houses built according to standard projects of 1970–1990 (four-city average 21 Bq/m3). The highest average radon concentration and EEI were observed in new energy efficient buildings (49 Bq/m3). The trend of radon increase in buildings ranked with high EEI index is observed in all cities. The potential increase of radiation exposure in energy-efficient buildings should be analyzed taking into account the principles of radiological protection.

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

“…Radon series measurements were performed in flats of staff of Institute of Industrial Ecology and their relatives, and colleagues from other cities. Two-season radon measurements were conducted in the flats of some participants of the large radon survey, earlier performed in Chelyabinsk [44]. The detailed indoor radon study in the multistorey building in Ekaterinburg was previously described by Vasilyev et al [48]; the flats, where both winter and summer three-months measurements were performed, are included in this study.…”

“…From the radiation protection point of view the attention to the new high-rise houses is especially attracted due to energy-saving measures implemented in modern building construction [44]. In buildings of high-energy-efficiency classes, the conditions are provided for lower air exchange rate and higher indoor radon accumulation [45].…”

Radon—The Element of Risk. The Impact of Radon Exposure on Human Health

“…The National Academy of Sciences Biologic Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR VII) report, based on the available scientific evidence, supports the linear no-threshold theory (LNT), indicating a linear relationship between the radon dose and the adverse health effect [ 55 ]. Similarly, according to International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), there is no dose of radon so low that it does not pose a risk of lung cancer [ 35 ]. Even the smallest dose of radiation has a carcinogenic potential if it hits the DNA of a cell and causes a genetic mutation.…”

“…An example of such a phenomenon is thermomodernisation of buildings which results in worsening ventilation, leading to an increase in radon concentration. In France, Czech Republic and Russia the concentration of radon after sealing the buildings increased by 1.6 times, and in England, 1.7 times [ 35 ]. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that every house be tested for radon concentration [ 36 ].…”

Designing an Indoor Radon Risk Exposure Indicator (IRREI): An Evaluation Tool for Risk Management and Communication in the IoT Age

“…In the specific case of Radon concentration and the perception that populations have of the risk of exposure, there are already some referenced works. [98]. As can be seen, surveys to assess the perception of exposure risk and to acquire data are widely used.…”