A survey of indoor radon in samutprakarn province.

ABSTRACT

A study of indoor radon was carried out on 1,024 different buildings in Samutprakarn province, Thailand, using an activated charcoal canister for sample collection and a gamma spectrometer for analysis of the samples. The survey revealed the presence of radon gas inside all the buildings investigated, varying in concentration from 4.00 to 47.51 Bequerels/cubic metre (7.47+4.69 Bq.m-3). Although the levels of radon encountered were well below the safety threshold of 148 Bq.m-3 established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, there were statistically significant differences between some districts. With regard to the type, age and ventilation status of the buildings, and the occupants’ practice of smoking indoors, the findings of this investigation do not warrant a conclusion that would support the notion of these factors contributing to, or being mutually associated with, indoor gaseous concentrations of radon.