Measurement and theoretical modeling of 222Rn in indoor and outdoor Air

Abstract

All living beings one or the other way depends on radiation for their existence. The exposure of newlinehuman beings to ionizing radiation from natural sources is a continuing and inescapable feature newlineof life on earth. Natural radioactivity being the main source of population exposure to ionizing newlineradiation its activity in our environment has been investigated more intensely in the past years newlinedue to public concern for radiation induced health hazards. More than 80 % of exposure comes newlinefrom the natural radioactivity. Radon and its progenies contribute with more than 50 % to annual newlineeffective dose received from all sources of ionizing radiation. Radiation damage to bronchial newlinecells can eventually be the second leading lung cancer risk next to smoking. newlineThe ever increasing application of radioactive isotopes and utilization of nuclear energy newlineand the consequent release of radionuclides and ionizing radiations to the environment have newlineadded a new dimension to the studies of environmental radioactivity. In addition to that releases newlinefrom nuclear reactors and weapons, releases from industries, thermal power plants, oil refineries, newlinephosphate fertilizers, hospital wastes etc have expanded the human exposure to radiation in the newlineenvironment. As a consequence, the background radiation level and radionuclide concentrations newlinein the environment may increase. newlineSince, radon and its decay products are the largest contributors to the human radiation newlineexposure, many articles have been published in the scientific literature dealing with the issue of newlinehuman risk from radon exposures, and many of these appear in publications by the National newlineAcademy of Sciences (NAS), NCRP, EPA, Department of Energy (DOE), UNSCEAR and ICRP. newlineModern lifestyle of the people forced them to spend most of their time at home and schools and newlinealso in workplaces. Teachers and administrators and service staff, who might spend even more newlinetime than children in school buildings, leads to accumulation of radon to harmful levels may newlinepose significant health risks to those who spend many mo