Vol. 9, 2024

Radon and Thoron

LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE 2022 CAMPAIGN OF THE MEASUREMENT OF INDOOR RADON CONCENTRATION IN DWELLINGS IN ALBANIA

Gerti Xhixha, Blerim Rrakaqi, Kozeta Tushe, Merita Xhixha (Kaçeli), Njomza Elezaj, Ylli Kaçiu, Nazim Gashi

Pages: 53-56

DOI: 10.37392/RapProc.2024.12

Indoor radon concentration in Albania has been investigated to study the influence of measuring indoor radon concentration between living room and bedroom using the CR-39 Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors (SSNTDs). Approximately 60% (out of 69 measurement locations) of the indoor radon measurements were performed in houses, while the remainder in apartments. The average bedroom-living room indoor radon concentration in houses were found to vary from 13 to 454 Bq/m3 with an arithmetic mean of 68 Bq/m3 (median 49 Bq/m3), while in apartments from 24 to 144 Bq/m3 with an arithmetic mean of 54 Bq/m3 (median 47 Bq/m3). The relatively lower concentrations found in apartments is mainly due to apartment floor height, varying from 1st to 7th floor. The ratio of radon concentrations between bedroom/living rooms showed values varying from 0.3 to 4.1 in houses and 0.5 to 3.7 in apartments. The distribution is positively skewed with median value of 1.0 in houses and 1.1 in apartments. The slight difference between houses and apartments can be an indication that the lifestyle is a factor determining bedroom radon concentrations. However, these results support our proposal that radon concentration measured in living room and/or bedroom is representative for the determination of environmental radon exposure of the population in dwellings.
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