Enhancement of radon exposure in narghile [water pipe] smoking areas

Narghile, one of the names for water pipe, is an instrument for tobacco smoking that has become a trend among the youth in Saudi Arabia. The mistaken opinion that smoking narghile is not as dangerous as smoking cigarettes makes the youngsters and their parents take it lightly and contributes to the expansion of its use. The link between tobacco smoke and cancer has long been established. Smokers are ten times at greater risk of developing lung cancer than that of non-smokers. Narghile smoking has become fashionable worldwide. Its tobacco pastes generally contains 30-70% tobacco. Tobacco contains minute amounts of radiotoxic elements which are inhaled via smoking. Radim-226 is a significant source ofradon-222, an inert radioactive gas, which enters buildings through soil, construction materials or water supply. When tobacco smoke is present, the radioactivity attached to airborne smoke particles and the radioactivity concentration in the room, increases very much compared to a smoke-free room. It remains suspended and available until inhaled as 'secondhand'smoke by anyone in the room. Thus, smoking indoors greatly increases lung cancer risks to all inhabitants. To investigate whether the narghile tobacco itself is a potential source of indoor radon, the level of radon and thoron from radioactive decay were measured in fifteen different brand narghile tobacco paste samples using CR-39 solid state nuclear track detectors [SSNTDs]. The results showed that the [222]Rn and [220] Rn concentrations in these samples ranged from 129 to 273 Bqm[-3] and 55 to 142 Bqm[-3] respectively

Indoor radon survey in Shiraz-Iran using developed passive measurement method

While in the open air the amount of radon gas is very small and does not pose a health risk, in confined spaces, radon can accumulate to relatively high levels and become a health hazard. Exposure to high levels of radon has been associated with an increased risk of lung cancer, depending on the time length of exposure. Radon level in dwelling of Shiraz with 1,200,000 populations has been sampled and analyzed in this study. Our study could be considered the largest radon study in Iran both time and area wise. In this study, radon [222Rn] concentration in residential dwellings in Shiraz-Iran was sampled and measured during two consecutive six month periods in 2009-2010. We used Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors [SSNTD], CR-39 polycarbonate films. The survey parameters of radon concentrations were floor types, construction materials and dwelling's age. Annual average indoor radon concentration for the survey period was 94 +/- 52 Bq/m3. The calculated mean annual effective doses in basements and different floors were less than the lowest limit recommended action level of 3 mSv by ICRP. High radon concentrations are measured in basements and old dwellings; however, due to rapidly changing housing structures and ventilation practices with no intervention, lower levels of radon concentration has been expected in Shiraz

Assessment of lung cancer risk due to exposure to radon from coastal sediments

We conducted a lung cancer risk assessment for internal exposure to naturally occurring [222]Rn gas both indoor and outdoor. A series of equations were used to estimate Rn concentrations indoor and outdoor and the associated lung cancer risk in some coastal regions in Egypt. The mean [222]Rn concentrations were 42.98 [SD 33.12] Bq/m[3] and 8.63 [SD 6.16] Bq/m[3] indoor and outdoor respectively. The mean risk of radon-induced cancer [deaths per million population] was 83.4 [SD 64.67] indoors and 25.1 [SD19.52] outdoors. Levels were higher for western regions of the country compared to eastern ones but the highest levels were in Rashid [Nile delta]. Smoking was shown to increase the risk considerably

Exposure of school children to alpha particles

A substantial part of the public's natural radiation dose is due to the inhalation of radon gas. Most of the exposure occurs indoors where the airborne concentration of radon and its decay products is usually higher than outdoors. Radon activity concentration has been measured twice in 50 classrooms in 5 levels [10 each] during summer and winter using solid-state nuclear track detectors [CR-39]. The indoor radon levels in the classrooms were slightly higher than exclusion limits recommended by the ICRP in the first and second floors and fill within the safe limits in the higher floors, where the average radon concentrations were found to be 57.6 +/- 3.33, 48.5 +/- 3.10, 34.5 +/- 1.71, 29.7 +/- 1.33 and 25.3 +/- 1.88 Bq/m3 for first, second, third, fourth and fifth floors with good ventilation, respectively; and 78 +/- 3.23, 66.9 +/- 2.84, 40.3 +/- 1.70, 34.4 +/- 1.42 and 28.8 +/- 1.75 Bq/m[3] for classes with poor ventilation respectively. The mean annual radiation doses obtained on inhalation exposure to Rn-222 and its degradation products were 0.85 +/- 0.37 and 0.67 +/- 0.23 mSvy[-1] for classes with closed and open windows, respectively. From the results obtained it can be concluded that values of radon and its daughter products and the resulting dose in the classrooms fill within the safe limit. Poor ventilation, construction materials, and radon exhalation from the ground are the main reasons for the relatively high radon concentrations in the lower levels

Spa, springs and safety.

Natural mineral water has long been used worldwide for bathing and health purposes. At present, Thailand is famous for health spas and natural hot springs among local people and tourists. Due to possible risks of exposure to harmful agents, we studied hazardous pollutants at 57 natural hot springs from 11 provinces in northern, central, eastern and southern Thailand. Pathogenic, free-living amebae of the genera Naegleria and Acanthamoeba, which can cause central nervous system infection, were found in 26.3% (15/57) and 15.8% (9/ 57), respectively. Dissolved radon, a soil gas with carcinogenic properties, was present in nearly all hot springs sites, with concentration ranging from 0.87-76,527 Becquerels/m3. There were 5 water samples in which radon concentration exceeded the safety limit for drinking. Legionella pneumoniphila (serogroups 1, 3, 5, 6, 7 10 and 13) were found in samples from 71.9% (41/57) of studied sites. Because spas and natural springs are popular tourist attractions, health authorities should be aware of possible hazards and provide tactful measures and guidelines to ensure safety without causing undue alarm to foreign and Thai tourists.

Variability of radon concentrations in different compartments of dwellings in Egypt

Inhalation of indoor radon has been recognized as one of the health hazards. Building materials, natural gas and underground-derived water supply are considered the major sources of indoor radon and its daughters. In this work a set of radon measurements was carried out, using CR-39 solid state nuclear track detector, in different compartments of dwellings in Cairo built of the same type of building materials. The results showed that the radon concentrations and exhalation rates in these houses varied from 47.94 to 84.32 Bqm-3 and 2.59 to 4.04 mBqm-2 h-2 respectively. The mean values of radon concentrations in living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens were 50.98 +/- 1.94, 53.18 +/- 3.69, 79.36 +/- 2.96, and 81.29 +/- 1.93 Bqm-3, respectively. The mean values of exhalation rates were 2.68 +/- 0.11, 2.79 +/- 0.19, 4.01 +/- 0.18, and 4.22 +/- 0.12 mBqm-2 h-1, respectively. This data show that bathrooms and kitchens have significantly higher radon concentrations and exhalation rates compared with other compartments and the outdoor levels

Indoor radon.

The naturally radioactive but chemically inert gas, radon, is formed from the radioactive decay of radium which is part of the uranium series. Radon gas, which has a half life of 3.8 days, must escape from soil particles through air-filled pores in order to enter the atmosphere following the decay of radium. The concentration of radon in the atmosphere varies, depending on the place, time, height above the ground and meteorological conditions. It is thus an inescapable source of radiation exposure, both at home and at work. The potential hazards posed by exposure to radiation from indoor radon gas and its daughter products are of great concern worldwide. Noting of an excessive lung cancer risk among several groups of underground miners exposed to radon and its daughter products, studies on radon concentrations in the workplace and in dwellings have been conducted in many countries. The results have shown that the distribution of radon concentrations are approximately lognormal from which population weighted; the arithmetic mean of radon concentration of 40 Bq.m-3 has been adopted worldwide for dwellings and workplaces. The principal methods for reducing a high indoor radon concentration are: reducing the radon supply by reversing the pressure difference between the building and the soil; raising the resistance of the foundations to soil gas entry; removing the radon sources such as water or underlying soil; diluting the concentration by increasing the ventilation rate; and reducing the concentration of radon progeny by filtering and increasing the circulation of indoor air. Buildings which have a radon concentration higher than 200 Bq.m-3 should be investigated by the national authorities concerned; meanwhile, householders should be advised to take simple temporary precautions, such as increasing ventilation, until a permanent remedy can be effected.

Contaminación del aire en ambientes interiores / Indoor air pollution

Los efectos sobre la salud y las fuentes de contaminación del aire de ambientes interiores (CAAI) es un problema importante ya que el 90 porciento del tiempo la población está en ambientes interiores. La CAAI es analizada en términos de exposición, dosis y fuentes. El humo del tabaco es uno de los principales componentes de la CAAI. Se discuten los efectos agudos y crónicos de la exposición pasiva al humo del tabaco (incluyendo el riesgo de cáncer pulmonar). Se ha demostrado un efecto nocivo del hábito tabáquico materno sobre la función pulmonar y sobre la salud de los hijos pequeños. Otros componentes habituales de la CAAI son: Co, NO2, radón, agentes biológicos, compuestos volátiles orgánicos (formaldehido) y partículas (humos). Se describe brevemente las fuentes y los eventuales efectos nocivos para la salud de estos contaminantes. Entre las medidas a fin de controlar la CAAI se debería considerar a las siguientes: mejoría de la ventilación de los ambientes interiores, eliminación o modificación de la fuente productora de contaminantes, uso de un purificdor de aire y promover el cambio de hábitos y conducta de la población