Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology

The Korean Society of Wood Science & Technology (한국목재공학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Prediction of Indoor Radon Concentration through the Exhalation from Korean Yellow Residual Soil, Hwangtoh as a Building Material

  • LEE, Ju Yong (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, KAIST) ;
  • KANG, Seog Goo (Department of Department of Biobased Materials, College of Agriculture & Life Science, Chungnam National University)
  • Received : 2020.10.05
  • Accepted : 2021.02.03
  • Published : 2021.03.25
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

The radon gas from nature mainly considers a cause of radon problems, and it is closely affect human life cycle. Korean yellow residual soil, Hwangtoh, widely used as a building material, is considered to be one of major sources of indoor radon. However, there have, as yet, been no studies about radon from Hwangtoh in mass market brands. Here, we investigated the indoor radon concentrations and exhalation rates in four Hwangtohs from different brand names and regional features. The Closed Chamber Method (CCM) conducted by a Continuous Radon Monitor (CRM) has been used for the rates of radon exhalation. Based on equations of previous references, the indoor radon concentrations were deducted. As a result, the radon surface exhalation rates resulted in the 1.4208 to 3.0293 Bq·㎡·h-1 range. Significant differences were found among Hwangtohs according to production regions. Materials with higher radon concentration required a longer time to reach a quasi-steady state in a given environment, in other words, the number of half-life cycles increased from a set starting point. The experimentally identified Hwangtohs demonstrated its safety for construction purposes. There exists, so far, a possibility to exert influence radon emanation due to unidentified factors. Therefore, it is necessary to corroborate with more research by increasing the number of Hwangtohs, considering the other references reported high radon exhalation rates. In addition, it is highly recommended that the radon exhalation rates should be measured for all building materials for preventing human health before the material usage.

Keywords

References

  1. Awhida, A., Ujic, P., Vukanac, I., Durasevic, M., Kandic, A., Celikovic, I., Loncar, B., Kolarz, P. 2016. Novel method of measurement of radon exhalation from building materials. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity 164: 337-343. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.08.009
  2. Bala, P., Kumar, V., Mehra, R. 2017. Measurement of radon exhalation rate in various building materials and soil samples. Journal of Earth System Science 126(31): 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-016-0788-5
  3. Chen, J., Rahman, N.M., Abu Atiya, I. 2010. Radon exhalation from building materials for decorative use. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity 101(4): 317-22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2010.01.005
  4. Choi, W.S., Yang, S.O., Lee, J.H., Choi, E.J., Kim, Y.H., Yang, J.Y., Park, M.J. 2020. Profiling patterns of volatile organic compounds in intact, senescent, and litter red pine. Jouranl of the Korean Wood Science and Technology 48(5): 591-607. https://doi.org/10.5658/WOOD.2020.48.5.591
  5. Elliot, T., Bonotto, D.M., Andrews, J.N. 2014. Dissolved uranium, radium and radon evolution in the continental intercalaire aquifer, algeria and tunisia. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity 137: 150-162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2014.07.003
  6. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 2012. A citizen's guide to radon. The guide to protecting yourself and your family from radon. pp. 1-16.
  7. Faheem, M., Matiullah 2008. Radon exhalation and its dependence on moisture content from samples of soil and building materials. Radiation Measurements 43(8): 1458-1462. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radmeas.2008.02.023
  8. Gundersen, L.C.S., Schumann, R.R. 1996. Mapping the radon potential of the united states: Examples from the appalachians. Montreal, Canada, Proceedings of the 1995 6th International Symposium on the Natural Radiation Environment, NRE, 22(1): 829-837.
  9. Han, H.J., Lee, S.E., Yang, S.M., Chio, C., Kang, S.G. 2019. Evaluation of formaldehyde emission from wood-based panels using accelerated collection method. Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology 47(2): 129-144. https://doi.org/10.5658/WOOD.2019.47.2.129
  10. Hwang, J., Lee, H. 2010. The applications and mineral compositions of residual soils distributed in south korea(asian clay special paper). Clay Science 14(6): 253-262.
  11. Hwang, J., Park, H., Yang, K., Lee, H. 2002. Mineralogy and chemical properties according to particle size separation of hwangto (reddish residual soil) used in feeding of cattle. Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea 15(1): 33-43.
  12. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) 1988. Man-made mineral fibres and radon. IARC monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans, 43.
  13. International Commision on Radiological Protection (ICRP) 1993. Protection against radon-222 at home and at work. ICRP Publication 65. Ann. ICRP, 23(2): 1-45. https://doi.org/10.1016/0146-6453(93)90002-P
  14. Ingersoll, J.G. 1983. A survey of radionuclide contents and radon emanation rates in building materials used in the u.S. Health Physics 45(2): 363-368. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-198308000-00008
  15. Jang, J.H., Lee, M., Lee, S.M., Park, S.B. 2017. Formaldehyde emission of building materials and effection of carbonized board on their reduction. Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology 45(3): 327-334. https://doi.org/10.5658/WOOD.2017.45.3.327
  16. Jang, J.H., Lee, M., Kang, E.C., Lee, S.M. 2017. Characteristics of low density fiberboards bonded with different adhesives for thermal insulation(II). Journal of Korean Wood Science and Technology 45(5): 580-587. https://doi.org/10.5658/WOOD.2017.45.5.580
  17. Jeong, G., Kim, S. 1990. Iron oxide minerals in the sancheong kaolin deposits. Journal of The Mineralogical Society of Korea 3(2): 79-88.
  18. Kim, I., Seo, S., Kang, C. 2000. General properties and ferric oxide content of hwangtoh (yellow ochre). Journal of Korean Pharmaceutical Sciences 30(3): 219-222.
  19. Kim, J.S. 2018. Indoor radon levels and effective dose estimation in learning and common living space of university. J. Korean Soc. Radiol. 12(3): 329-333. https://doi.org/10.7742/JKSR.2018.12.3.329
  20. Kim, K., Kim, S., Park, M., Kim, H., Park, J. 2010. Characteristics of a reddish residual soil (hwangtoh) finishing material with water-soluble adhesive for residential building. Construction and Building Materials 24(8): 1542-1546. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2009.06.016
  21. Kim, C., Noh, J., Park, S., Park, S., Park, H., Lee, D., Lee, J., Lee, H., Jang, B., Jin, H., Choi, S., Kim, O., Park, S., Lee, M., Lee, S., Cho, E., Choi, S., Choi, Y., Choi, J., Han, H. 2002. Assessment of radiation risk for korean population and nationwide indoor radon survey in korea: Nationwide survey of indoor radon level in korea, Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS), 3(1): 100-151.
  22. Korean Ministry of Environment (KME) 2016. Indoor air quality control in public-use facilities, etc. Act. 2003. No. 6911.
  23. Lee, C., Jung, S., Lee, D., Kim, Y., Lee, D., Cho, Y., Jin, Y. 2015. Investigation of radon emanation of domestic building materials. Journal of Odor and Indoor Environment 14(1): 50-56. https://doi.org/10.15250/joie.2015.14.1.50
  24. Lee, J., Choi, G., Kang, S. 2018. Radon exhalation from five wood species. Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology 46(6): 735-747. https://doi.org/10.5658/WOOD.2018.46.6.735
  25. Lee, M., Park, S.B., Lee, S.M., Lee, H.Y., Kil, D.H. 2014. Emisson characteristics of volatile organic compounds by humidifer with using hinoki cypress extracts. Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology 42(6): 747-757. https://doi.org/10.5658/WOOD.2014.42.6.747
  26. Lubin, J.H., Boice, J.D., Jr. 1997. Lung cancer risk from residential radon: Meta-analysis of eight epidemiologic studies. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 89(1): 49-57. https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/89.1.49
  27. Lubin, J.H., Boice, J.D., Jr., Edling, C., Hornung, R. W., Howe, G.R., Kunz, E., Kusiak, R.A., Morrison, H.I., Radford, E.P., Samet, J.M., et al. 1995. Lung cancer in radon-exposed miners and estimation of risk from indoor exposure. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 87(11): 817-827. https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/87.11.817
  28. Mahur, A.K., Kumar, R., Sengupta, D., Prasad, R. 2009. Radon exhalation rate in chhatrapur beach sand samples of high background radiation area and estimation of its radiological implications. Indian Journal of Physics 83(7): 1011-1018. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12648-009-0061-8
  29. Mun, S.W., Kang, Y.S., Park, J.H., Han, M.S., Jeong, H.Y. 2019. A study on the making properties of natural pigments based on substance characteristics for hwangto in korea. Journal of Conservation Science 35(6): 600-611. https://doi.org/10.12654/JCS.2019.35.6.03
  30. Najam, L., Tawfiq, N., Mahmood, R. 2014. Radon concentration in some building materials in iraq using cr-39 track detector. International Journal of Physics 1(3): 73-76.
  31. Nazaroff, W.W., Nero, A.V. 1988. Radon and its decay products in indoor air. New York, NY (US); John Wiley and Sons, Incorporated, United States.
  32. Neidherr, D., Audi, G., Beck, D., Blaum, K., Bohm, C., Breitenfeldt, M., Cakirli, R.B., Casten, R.F., George, S., Herfurth, F., Herlert, A., Kellerbauer, A., Kowalska, M., Lunney, D., Minaya-Ramirez, E., Naimi, S., Noah, E., Penescu, L., Rosenbusch, M., Schwarz, S., Schweikhard, L., Stora, T. 2009. Discovery of 229rn and the structure of the heaviest rn and ra isotopes from penning-trap mass measurements. Physical Review Letters 102(11): 1-5.
  33. Oufni, L. 2003. Determination of the radon diffusion coefficient and radon exhalation rate in moroccan quaternary samples using the ssntd technique. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry 256(3): 581-586. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024580506465
  34. Parajuli, P., Thapa, D., Shah, B. 2015. Study of radon exhalation rate in soil samples of kathmandu valley using passive detector lr115. International Journal of Chemical and Physical Sciences 4(4): 30-39.
  35. Park, H.J., Jo, S.E. 2020. Evaluation of physical, mechanical properties and pollutant emissions of wood-magnesium laminated board(WML Board) for interior finishing materials. Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology 48(1): 86-94. https://doi.org/10.5658/WOOD.2020.48.1.86
  36. Petropoulos, N.P., Anagnostakis, M.J., Simopoulos, S.E. 2001. Building materials radon exhalation rate: Erricca intercomparison exercise results. Science of the Total Environment 272(1-3): 109-118. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0048-9697(01)00674-X
  37. Rhie, J., Choi, K. 2005. Coloration of synthetic fiber fabrics with loess(i). Korean Journal of Human Ecology 8(1): 19-24.
  38. Seo, J., Nirwono, M.M., Park, S.J., Lee, S.H. 2018. Standard measurement procedure for soil radon exhalation rate and its uncertainty. Journal of Radiation Protection and Research 43(1): 29-38. https://doi.org/10.14407/jrpr.2018.43.1.29
  39. Seok, J., Jun, S. 2009. Control of redtide microbes with hydrogen peroxide and yellow loess. Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater 23(4): 491-497.
  40. Shin, G., Choo, Y., Kim, K., Ryu, H., Lee, S. 2011. Evaluation of lanthanum(iii): loess compositeas an adsorbent for phosphate removal. Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers 33(2): 143-148. https://doi.org/10.4491/KSEE.2011.33.2.143
  41. Shweikani, R., Hushari, M. 2005. The correlations between radon in soil gas and its exhalation and concentration in air in the southern part of syria. Radiation Measurements 40(2-6): 699-703. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radmeas.2005.06.025
  42. Singh, S., Kumar, M., Mahajan, R.K. 2005. The study of indoor radon in dwellings of bathinda district, punjab, india and its correlation with uranium and radon exhalation rate in soil. Radiation Measurements 39(5): 535-542. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radmeas.2004.10.008
  43. United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) 1969. Report of the united nations scientific committee on the effects of atomic radiation.
  44. United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) 2000. Source, effects and risk of ionizing radiation.
  45. Webb, G.A.M. 1992. Exposure to radon. Radiation Protection Dosimetry 42(3): 191-195.
  46. Yoo, J., Lee, K., Seo, S., Kim, S., Lee, J. 2019. Comparison of indoor radon concentrations in areas of jeollabuk-do province. Journal of Environmental Health Sciences 45(6): 658-667. https://doi.org/10.5668/JEHS.2019.45.6.658
  47. World Health Organization (WHO) 2009. WHO handbook on indoor radon: A public health perspective. 1(1.1): 7-13.