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@#<b>Objective</b> To investigate the indoor radon concentration and its changing trend in northeastern China. <b>Methods</b> We measured indoor radon levels cumulatively for over three months by solid state nuclear track detection in a total of 261 houses in multi-story or high-rise buildings in Shenyang, Changchun, Harbin, Heihe, and Yichun in northeastern China. The measurement lasted one year in Changchun for seasonal changes. <b>Results</b> The average indoor radon concentration in the five cities was 88 Bq/m<sup>3</sup>, ranging from 12 to 558 Bq/m<sup>3</sup>. The indoor radon concentrations were ≤ 100 Bq/m<sup>3</sup> in 75.1% of the houses, and ≤ 300 Bq/m<sup>3</sup> in 97.7% of the houses. The indoor radon concentration increased with the age of buildings. The indoor radon concentration was highest in winter, and it was higher in summer than in autumn and spring. <b>Conclusion</b> The indoor radon concentration in northeastern China increased compared with the data of 1980s and 1990s. It is highest in the winter heating season, and higher in summer than in spring and autumn. Indoor radon exposure deserves attention.
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Objective To primarily investigate the indoor radon concentrations in the urban and rural dwellings in Yinchuan, China, and to estimate the effective dose. Methods A total of 67 dwellings, which included 49 urban households and 18 rural households in Yinchuan, were selected to cumulatively measure the indoor radon concentrations for more than 3 months using solid state nuclear track detection. Results The arithmetic mean, geometric mean, median, and range of indoor radon concentrations in urban and rural areas in Yinchuan were 64 Bq/m3, 59 Bq/m3, 57 Bq/m3, and 25-172 Bq/m3, respectively. Surveillance sites with an indoor radon concentration higher than 100 Bq/m3 accounted for 7.5%. Indoor radon concentrations in rural areas were higher than those in urban areas. Indoor radon concentrations were highest in winter and lowest in summer. The effective dose of indoor radon exposure among residents in Yinchuan was 1.86 mSv/a. Conclusion The results of indoor radon concentrations measured in this investigation in Yinchuan are significantly higher than those measured in the 1990s. The annual effective dose is higher than the mean levels in the world and China.
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@#<b>Objective</b> To investigate the suitable methods for reducing the concentration levels of residential radon and its daughters. <b>Methods</b> Three rooms were selected and treated by natural ventilation, air purifier, and sealing/shielding, respectively. The EQF3120 device was used to measure the concentrations of radon and its daughters, and the alpha nuclear trail detector was used to measure indoor radon concentration. The three methods were compared in terms of radon reduction effect. <b>Results</b> After natural ventilation for 2-10 hours, the average reduction rates of the concentrations of radon and attached and unattached radon daughters in the room were 87.7%, 89.8%, and 93.7%, respectively; in the room with air purifier, the concentrations of radon and attached and unattached radon daughters were reduced by 46.3%, 94.5%, and 45.3%, respectively; after sealing and shielding, the concentration of radon was reduced by 74.9% after 1 month and 59.2% after 1 year. <b>Conclusion</b> All three methods have a marked effectin reducing the concentrations of indoor radon and its daughters, and natural ventilation is the most economical and effective method for reducing radon.
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Objective To establish a simple and convenient method and study the feasibility of using gold nanoparticle composites (ssDNA-AuNPs) for colorimetric detection of gamma radiation.Methods The composites ssDNA-AuNPs were prepared by applying the ssDNA to the surface of AuNPs,and then were irradiated with gamma ray with absorbed doses of 0,5,10,20,and 30 Gy,respectively.Subsequently the color change in the solutions were observed simultaneously with absorption spectra being measured.The linear relationship between the ratio of A625/A521 in the absorption spectrum and the absorbed dose was established.Results With the increase of radiation dose,the color of the solutions changed from wine-red to blue-violet gradually,the ratio of A625/A521 in absorption spectra had excellent liner response for absorbed dose ranging from 0 to 30 Gy,and the linear equation was A625/A521 =0.020 6 + 0.303 6 E(R2 =0.991 5).Conclusions The ssDNA-AuNPs synthesized in this experiment can be successfully used for colorimetric detection of gamma absorbed dose,and a simple and convenient method for detection of gamma radiation has been newly established.
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Objective To increase the cumulative measurement level of 222 Rn and 220 Rn and ensure the accuracy and reliability of the measurement result . Methods By using improved 222 Rn-220 Rn discriminative detectors ( LD-P detectors) , the radon research group of National Institute for Radiological Protection Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention participated with the intercomparison organized by National Institute of Radiological Science ( NIRS) , Japan. Specifically, with the 222 Rn-220 Rn discriminative detectors being sent to Japan, the comparison was completed under different conditions in the 222 Rn chamber and 220 Rn chamber in NIRS. After exposure, the detectors were sent back to our laboratory for etching and analysis, and then measurement result were informed to NIRS. Finally, NIRS returned the exposure reference values of 222 Rn and 220 Rn to our laboratory. Results Under the conditions of high and low levels of 222 Rn, the relative percentage differences ( RPD ) between the measured values and the reference value provided by the NIRS were -12. 0％ and -11. 8％, respectively, while coefficients of variation ( COV) were 3. 0％ and 6. 2％, respectively. Under the conditions of high level and low levels of 220Rn, the relative percentage differences (RPD) between the measured value and the reference value provided by the NIRS were -0. 8％ and -8. 0％, respectively; coefficients of variation ( COV ) were 6. 7％ and 4. 5％, respectively. Conclusions This intercomparison result were categorized by NIRS ( PRD<10％) , with the satisfactory result of LD-P detectors available.