Measurement of Indoor Seasonal and Regional Radon (222Rn) Gas Activity in Çanakkale (Turkey)

Abstract

Radon gas, which undergoes radioactive decay, can cause damage to the lung tissue and lung cancer over time in indoor environments where it is inhaled. Radon gas radioactivity concentrations were measured using CR-39 passive solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTD) in the basement and ground floor simultaneously in summer and winter periods in 17 dwellings in Çanakkale Center and Kepez regions (Turkey). Accordingly, an average of 163.67 Bq.m-3 in basements in summer, 63.26 Bq.m-3 in ground floors in summer, 148.73 Bq.m-3 in basements in winter, and 77.57 Bq.m-3 in ground floors in winter. In addition, annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE) values and excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) parameters were calculated using radon activity concentrations. Accordingly, the basement and mean AEDE values in the summer period were found to be 4.52 µSv.y-1 and 1.59 µSv.y-1, respectively. In winter, it was found as 3.75 µSv.y-1 and 1.95 µSv.y-1.