A survey of indoor radon in phuket province.

ABSTRACT

A study of indoor radon was carried out on 271 different buildings in the districts (Amphurs Thalang, Muang and Kratoo) of Phuket Province in Southern Thailand, using an activated charcoal canister for gaseous 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 to 82.50 Bequerels/cubic metre (14.09 + 11.48 Bq.m-3), i.e., well below the threshold limit of 148 Bq.m-3 established by the American Environmental Protection Agency. The results of measurement of radon concentrations in Amphur Kratoo (22.27 + 18.93 Bq.m-3), Amphur Thalang (14.45 + 10.11 Bq.m-3), and Amphur Muang (10.25 + 5.95 Bq.m-3) showed a marked statistically significant difference (p < 0.005). In considering the age of the buildings (less than 1 year, 1-5 years and over 5 years old), types of building materials (concrete, wood, zinc sheeting and glass) and the apprarent difference of ventilation, the differences in indoor radon concentrations were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Indoor cigarette smoking did not affect indoor radon concentrations (p = 0.072).