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

ABSTRACT

@#<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.