Journal of Environmental Health Sciences (한국환경보건학회지)

Korean Society of Environmental Health (한국환경보건학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

A Study on the Concentrations of Indoor Radon for Houses in Chungcheongbuk-do Province, Korea

충청북도 일부지역 내 주택 실내 라돈 농도

  • Ji, Hyun-A (Indoor Environment and Noise Research Division, National Institute of Environment Research) ;
  • Yoo, Ju-Hee (Indoor Environment and Noise Research Division, National Institute of Environment Research) ;
  • Kim, Ga-Hyun (Indoor Environment and Noise Research Division, National Institute of Environment Research) ;
  • Won, Soo Ran (Indoor Environment and Noise Research Division, National Institute of Environment Research) ;
  • Kim, Seonhong (Indoor Environment and Noise Research Division, National Institute of Environment Research) ;
  • Lee, Jeongsub (Indoor Environment and Noise Research Division, National Institute of Environment Research)
  • 지현아 (국립환경과학원 환경기반연구부 생활환경연구과) ;
  • 유주희 (국립환경과학원 환경기반연구부 생활환경연구과) ;
  • 김가현 (국립환경과학원 환경기반연구부 생활환경연구과) ;
  • 원수란 (국립환경과학원 환경기반연구부 생활환경연구과) ;
  • 김선홍 (국립환경과학원 환경기반연구부 생활환경연구과) ;
  • 이정섭 (국립환경과학원 환경기반연구부 생활환경연구과)
  • Received : 2019.11.07
  • Accepted : 2019.12.05
  • Published : 2019.12.31
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Objectives: Modern people spend most of their day indoors. As the health impact of radon becomes an issue, public interest also has been growing. The primary route of potential human exposure to radon is inhalation. Long-term exposure to high levels of radon increases the risk of developing lung cancer. Radon exposure is known to be the second-leading cause of lung cancer, following tobacco smoke. This study measures the indoor radon concentrations in detached houses in area A of Chungcheongbuk-do Province considering the construction year, cracks in the houses, the location of installed detectors, and seasonal effects. Methods: The survey was conducted from September 2017 to April 2018 on 1,872 private households located in selected areas in northern Chungcheongbuk-do Province to figure out the year of building construction and the location of detector installed and identify the factors which affect radon concentrations in the air within the building. Radon was measured using a manual alpha track detector (Raduet, Hungary) with a sampling period of longer than 90 days. Results: Indoor radon concentrations in winter within area A was surveyed to be 168.3±193.3 Bq/㎥. There was more than a 2.3 times difference between buildings built before 1979 and those built after 2010. The concentration reached 195.4±221.9 Bq/㎥ for buildings with fractures and 167.2±192.4 Bq/㎥ for buildings without fractures. It was found that detectors installed in household areas with windows exhibited a lower concentration than those installed in concealed spaces. Conclusion: High concentrations of indoor radon were shown when there was a crack in the house. Also, ventilation seems to significantly affect radon concentrations because when the location of the detector in the installed site was near windows compared to an enclosed area, radon concentration variation increased. Therefore, it is considered that radon concentration is lower in summer because natural ventilation occurs more often than in winter.

Keywords

References

  1. Kim KC, Lee YG. Measurement on the indoor air quality in the public facility of underground market. Journal of Odor and Indoor Environment. 2018; 17(2): 168-173. https://doi.org/10.15250/joie.2018.17.2.168
  2. Kang YS. VOCs Emission characteristics of Various Wood Coatings and their Effects on Indoor Air Quality. The University of Seoul. 2009.
  3. Lee CM, Jung SW, Kim YB, Lee DJ, Cho YS, Jin YH. Investigation of radon emanation of domestic building materials. Journal of Odor and Indoor Environment. 2015; 14(1): 50-56. https://doi.org/10.15250/joie.2015.14.1.50
  4. Wilkening, M. Radon in the Environment. Elsevier. 1990.
  5. World Health Organization (WHO), Air quality guidelines for europe second edition. 2000.
  6. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), EPA assessment of risks from radon in homes, EPA 402-R-03-003. 2003.
  7. Cha DW, Kim SH, Cho SY. Radon reduction efficiency of the air cleaner equipped with a Korea carbon filter. Journal of Odor and Indoor Environment. 2017; 16(4): 364-368. https://doi.org/10.15250/joie.2017.16.4.364
  8. Kwon MH, Seo SY, Yoo JH, Lee KS, Oh SJ, Kim SM, Shim IK, Kim SY, Lee WS, Kwon OS, et al. Nationwide survey (2013-2014) of indoor radon at home in Korea: National Institute of Environmental research.
  9. Quarto, M., Pugliese, M., Loffredo, F., & Roca1, V. Indoor radon concentration measurement in some dwellings of the Penisola Sorrentina, South Italy. Radiation Protection Dosimetry. 2013; 156(2): 207-212. https://doi.org/10.1093/rpd/nct056
  10. Zoo DH, Park KH, Jeong HW, Lim HJ, Bok DS, Yun D W, Min KW, Mun KD, Kim JW, Lee JM, Choi WY, Kim SY, et al. A study on indoor radon concentration among vulnerable households in Korea. Journal of Environmental Health Science. 2015; 41(2): 61-70.
  11. Lee K, Seo SY, Kim YJ, Choi KH, Son BS. A study on the indoor radon concentration of elementary school in Korea. Journal of Korean Society for Indoor Environment. 2012; 9(2): 127-133.
  12. Zoo HD, Park KH, Jeong HW, Lim HJ, Bok DS, Yun DW, Min KH, Mun KD, Kim JU, Lee JM, Yong CW, Yoon KS, et al. A study on indoor radon concenttation among vulnerable households in Korea, J Environ Health Sci. 2015; 41(2): 61-70.
  13. Jung JS, Lee JW, Shim IK, Yoo JH, Lee KS, Kim SM, Seo SY, Kwon MH, et al. A Study of Construction Type and Seasonal Radon Concentration at Dwellings in Gangwon-do Province. The Korean Society of Living Environmental System. 2017; 24(6): 715-721. https://doi.org/10.21086/ksles.2017.12.24.6.715
  14. Kim MJ, An SS, Cho MC, Park SI, Kim JM, Bae SJ, Cho YG, Seo GY, et al. Distribution characteristics on indoor radon concentration of multiple-use facilities in Gwangju area. Journal of Odor and Indoor Environment. 2019; 18(2): 177-184. https://doi.org/10.15250/joie.2019.18.2.177
  15. Zhuo W, Furukawa M, Guo Q, Kim YS. Soil radon flux and outdoor radon concentration in East Asia. International Congress Series. 2005; 1276: 285-286. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ics.2004.10.002
  16. Harley NH, Terilli TB. Predicting annual average indoor $^{222}Rn$ concentration. Health physics. 1990; 59(2): 205.
  17. Lee CM, Kim YS, Roh YM, Kim KY, Jeon HJ, Kim JC, Radon concentration in various indoor environment and effective does by inhabitants in Korea, J Environ Health Sci. 2007; 33(4): 264-275.
  18. Yoo JH, Seo SY, Jung JS, Lee KS, Lee JW, Kwon M.H. Comparison of indoor radon concentrations by seasonal in some areas of Gangwondo. Journal of Odor and Indoor Environment. 2016; 15(3): 204-212. https://doi.org/10.15250/joie.2016.15.3.204
  19. Singh S, Mehra R, Singh K. Seasonal variation of indoor radon in dwellings of Malwa region. Punjab. Atmospheric Environment. 2005; 39: 7761-7767. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2005.08.030
  20. Mehra R, Badhan K, Kansal S, Sonkawade RG. Assessment of seasonal indoor radon concentration in dwellings of Western Haryana. Radiation Measurements. 2011; 46: 1803-1806. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radmeas.2011.06.059