Indoor radon concentration and its changing trend in northeastern China / 中国辐射卫生

@#<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/m³, ranging from 12 to 558 Bq/m³. The indoor radon concentrations were ≤ 100 Bq/m³ in 75.1% of the houses, and ≤ 300 Bq/m³ 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.

Study on relationship between indoor radon concentration and air exchange rate for new residential buildings / 中华放射医学与防护杂志

Objective To investigate the relationship between indoor radon concentration and air exchange rate for new residential building.Methods The indoor radon concentration and air exchange rate were measured in two new roughcast houses in Guangzhou and Hefei,respectively.The radon concentration was measured using radon instrument.The air exchange rate was measured by using tracer gas dilution method.Results The indoor radon concentrations measured in Guanzhou for two bedrooms in a 48-hour closed condition were 106 and 115 Bq/m3,the range of 17-181 and 6-224 Bq/m3.Air exchange rates were 0.16/h and 0.21/h.In Hefei,the twice measured values for one bedroom were 148 and 186 Bq/m3,the range of 8-224 and 14-290 Bq/m3,and air exchange rates were 0.14/h and 0.12/h.The indoor radon concentration exponentially decreased with the increase of air exchange rates.Conclusions Attention should be paid to the indoor radon pollution issue that may arise in new residential buildings of energy-saving design due to low air exchange rate.