• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제25권8호
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• pp.1107-1114
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• 2016

This research, sponsored by the Korean Ministry of Environment in 2014, was the first epidemiological study in Korea that investigated the health impact assessment of radon exposure. Its purpose was to construct a model that calculated the annual mean cumulative radon exposure concentrations, so that reliable conclusions could be drawn from environment-control group research. Radon causes chronic lung cancer. Therefore, the long-term measurement of radon exposure concentration, over one year, is needed in order to develop a health impact assessment for radon. Hence, based on the seasonal correction model suggested by Pinel et al.(1995), a predictive model of annual mean radon concentration was developed using the year-long seasonal measurement data from the National Institute of Environmental Research, the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety, the Hanyang University Outdoor Radon Concentration Observatory, and the results from a 3-month (one season) survey, which is the official test method for radon measurement designated by the Korean Ministry of Environment. In addition, a model for evaluating the effective annual dose for radon was developed, using dosimetric methods. The model took into account the predictive model for annual mean radon concentrations and the activity characteristics of the residents.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.203-211
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• 2009

A lesser degree of research is available with respect to indoor radon characteristics associated with occupants' exposure. The present study evaluated the radon levels in several public-access buildings or underground facilities, and their temporal variation in underground facilities. Radon measurements were conducted in 2005 and 2006, utilizing a continuous radon detector. A solid alpha detector (RAD7) was utilized to measure indoor radon levels. The mean radon concentrations obtained from the building or facilities were in a descending order: platforms of Daegu subway line 2, 2005 (32 $Bq/m^3$), hot-air bathroom (14 $Bq/m^3$), basement of office building (14 $Bq/m^3$), underground parking garage (14 $Bq/m^3$), underground shop (12 $Bq/m^3$), nursery (10 $Bq/m^3$), platforms of Daegu subway line 2, 2006 (9.0 $Bq/m^3$), platforms of Daegu subway line 1, 2006 (8.9 $Bq/m^3$), supermarket (7.9 $Bq/m^3$), hospital (7.3 $Bq/m^3$), and second-floor of office building (5.7 $Bq/m^3$). In general, underground-level facilities exhibited higher radon levels as compared with ground-level facilities. It was suggested that ventilation is an important parameter regarding the indoor levels of a subway. There was a decreasing or increasing trend in hourly-radon levels in a subway, whereas no trend were observed in a basement of office building. In addition, the radon levels in the subway lines 1 and 2 varied according to the platforms. The radon levels in the present study were much lower than those of previous studies. The average annual effective dose (AED) of radiation from indoor radon exposure was estimated to be between 0.043 and 0.242 mSv/yr, depending on facility types. These AEDs were substantially lower than the worldwide average AED (2.4 mSv/yr).

• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제15권4호
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• pp.311-317
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to investigate Rn concentration and annual radiation exposure level in the basement and first floor. The Rn Cup monitors were placed in different environments such as shopping stage, office building, Apartment, Hospital, house in Seoul from Match 1996 to April 1997 and CR-39 films were collected every two months. The mean radon concentration in the basement of house($88.6\;Bq/m^3$) showed the highest level among the areas, while radon concentration on the first floor of house($50.5\;Bq/m^3$) showed the higher than other areas. The annual radiation exposure dose that person on the floor / in the basement of differential place in the seoul can be exposed during living was estimated from 24.11 to 87.64 mRem/yr. This radiation dose is significantly lower than 130mRem maximum radiation dosage from the radon nuclide prescribed by the ICRP, with respect to the overall average exposure of the working adult. this study indicated that possible radon sources on the first floor / in the basement areas are radon intrusion from soil gas, construction materials, or ground water leaking. Further study is needed to quantitatively assess major contributions of radon-222 and health effect to radon exposure.

• 한국대기환경학회지
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• 제24권5호
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• pp.538-550
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• 2008

Radon is an invisible, odorless, and radioactive gas. It is formed by the disintegration of radium, which is a decay product of uranium. Some amounts of radon gas and its products are present ubiquitously in the soil, water, and air. Particularly high radon levels occur in regions of high uranium content. Although radon is permeable into indoor environment not only through geological features (bed rock and permeability) but also through the construction materials and underground water, the radiation from the geological features is generally main exposure factor. So there can be a problem in a certain space such as the underground and/or relatively poor ventilation condition. In this study, a GIS technique was used in order to investigate spatial distribution of radon measured from sub- way stations of 1 thru 8 in Seoul, Korea in 1991, 1998, 2001, and 2006. Spatial analysis was applied to reproduce the radon distribution. We utilized spatial analysis techniques such as inverse distance weighted averaging (IDW) and kriging techniques which are widely used to relate between different spatial points. To validate the results from the analyses, the jackknife technique for an uncertainty test was performed. When the number of measuring sites was less than 100 and also when the number of omitted sites increased, the kriging technique was better than IDW. On the other hand, when the number of sites was over 100, IDW technique was better than kriging technique. Thus the selection of analytical tool was affected sensitives by the analysis based on the number of measuring sites.

• 분석과학
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.14-18
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• 2012

신속한 유류오염 조사를 위해 자연 방사성 동위원소인 Rn-222를 추적자로 활용하였다. 디젤유로 오염된 화강암 토양시료중의 Rn-222를 액체섬광계수기를 사용하여 분석한 결과 라돈 농도는 유류의 함량에 비례하여 감소하였으며 13%까지 오염시킨 경우 Rn-222의 함량은 30% 까지 감소하였다. TCE로 오염된 지하수의 오염범위를 알기위해 Rn-222를 물과 유류간의 분배계수차이를 활용한 추적자로 사용하였다. 원주의TCE 오염 지하수에 대한 오염범위를 예측하기 위해 Rn-222 분석을 수행하였다.

• 한국대기환경학회지
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• 제27권6호
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• pp.692-702
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• 2011

For more effective indoor radon reduction policy and technique, we researched radon data analysis for some buildings in Seoul. Those buildings were categorized as dwelling, underground and office space and the variations of radon concentration and its sources were evaluated. The variations of radon concentrations of indoor space of buildings for a day were patterned specifically by dwelling habits and different environment. As for the new built apartments which were not yet moved in, their indoor radon concentrations were showed more than 3 times after applying interior assembly, and were 5 times higher than ones of rather old residences. As for the subway stations, the radon concentrations during off-run times were about 15% higher than run-times. 10% of radon seemed to be reduced by installation of platform screen doors. As for office space, radon concentrations during working hours were about 2.5 times higher than non-working hours. Plaster board are expected as a main source of radon for them. By radon measurement method for long-term, its data can be over estimated because it covers non-active time in office or public space. Therefore combination of short and long-term measurement method is required for effective and economic reduction. Furthermore importance of ventilation is requested as public information service for all dwelling space. And also standardization for radium content or radiation of radon is necessary.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제47권4호
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• pp.330-338
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• 2021

Background: This study was conducted to provide background information for the proper management of radon contamination in apartments using mechanical ventilation facilities in residential environments. Objectives: To this end, this study compared and evaluated changes in radon concentrations based on different operating intensities of mechanical ventilation with or without natural ventilation. Methods: For the continuous measurement of radon concentrations, an RAD7 instrument was installed in four apartments equipped with a ventilation system. The measurements were done for comparison of ventilation types and different ventilation intensities ("high", "middle", "low"). Results: The results confirmed that both mechanical and natural ventilation sufficiently reduced the radon concentration in the apartments. In particular, mechanical ventilation at "high" intensity was the most effective. Natural ventilation combined with mechanical ventilation and then natural ventilation alone were the second and the third most effective, respectively. Conclusions: When using ventilation to reduce indoor radon concentrations, it is most effective to operate mechanical ventilation ("high") or natural ventilation and mechanical ventilation at the same time. In cases where mechanical ventilation is available alone, it is recommended to operate it at a minimum of "middle" intensity.

• 한국해양학회지:바다
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.178-185
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• 2013

해수의 염분 및 라돈($^{222}Rn$) 추적자를 이용하여 부산 인근의 동부와 남부 연안해역(문동리, 이천리, 죽성리, 대변리, 연화리, 다대포) 그리고 일광만 내에서 2009년과 2010년에 해저 용천수 유출 가능성을 조사하였다. 해양조사 전에 기본적으로 육상으로부터 해양으로 연장된 선구조 분석을 통하여 해저 용천수의 유출 유망지점을 선정하였다. 선정된 지점들을 포함하여 해안에서 바다쪽으로 약 1~2 km 이내에서 해수의 염분과 라돈을 측정하였다. 부산 인근의 동부 및 남부 연안해역에서 라돈 농도는 연안에서 외양쪽으로 갈수록 낮아지는 경향을 보였다. 또한, 염분의 수직분포에서는 일부 정점의 중간 수층에서 낮은 염분을 가진 수괴의 수평 유입이 관측되었다. 부산 인근의 동부 연안해역에서 유일한 만의 형태를 보이는 일광만 내에서 측정한 염분 수직분포에서도 저층에서 낮은 염분의 수괴가 출현하였다. 이번 조사에서 나타난 연구결과는 부산 인근 연안해역에서 해저 용천수 형태의 담지하수 유출 가능성을 시사하며, 앞으로 해저 용천수 탐사 방법과 미래의 대체 수자원으로서 활용 가능성에 대한 집중적인 연구가 필요할 것으로 판단된다.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제28권5호
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• pp.71-76
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• 2002

A survey of radon concentrations in both indoor and outdoor atmospheres was carried out using EIRM and Cup Monitor for the period of February 1996 to March 1997. EIRM were used to measure the indoor and outdoor radon concentration at five major cities university. Cup Monitor were also used to measure the indoor radon concentrations at shopping store, office building, apartment, hospital and house in Seoul. The mean indoor and outdoor radon concentrations at the five major cities(Seoul, Daegu, Daejon, Cwangiu and Busan) were 24.1 Bq/m$^3$and 8.62 Bq/m$^3$, respectively. The ratio of indoor to outdoor radon concentrations ranged front 1.7 to 3.9. Inspection of its seasonal distribute pattern indicates the enhancement during winter relative to summer, consistently for both indoor and outdoor air. The results of the survey showed that the concentrations in basements were clearly higher than those in usual living/working places.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.1-7
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• 1990

Indoor radon concentrations were measured using Track-Etch detectors in four (Seoul., Songtan, Dogo, Kunsan) different geological areas in Korea during December 1988 - April 1989. Measurements involving 75 hdmes were made in different rooms of each home. The mean concentrations of indoor radon in the homes by area varied from 2.70 - 3.22 pCi/l. Indoor radon concentrations in rural areas were higher than the corresponding levels in urban areas. The mean radon concentrations in the basements were about 1.3 times higher than those levels measured in the first floor. The mean radon concentrations in the kitchen and bedroom were and 2.86 pCi/l 2.43 pCi/l, respectively, while the living room radon concentrations were 2.61 pCi/l. Energy-efficient homes have a living room level that is on the average 1.4 times higher than normally insulated conventional homes. Approximately 13% of the study homes exceeded 4 pCi/l of radon levels of the U.S. EPA's recommended limit. From these results, radon levels in the homes seemed to correlate strongly with house location relative to geologic formation.