RESUMO
The objective of this pilot study was to gather and analyze data on radon concentrations in workplaces in three buildings of Granada University (Southern Spain) constructed in different centuries. All measurements were made at basement or ground floor level under normal use conditions except for one space (mineral store), in which measurements were compared between the door closed and open. Measurements were conducted during different time periods between October 2013 and March 2019 with a Radon-Scout PLUS portable Radonmonitor. The duration of continuous recordings at different sites ranged between 42 and 1104 h. Mean accumulated radon concentrations ranged between 12 and 95 Bq/m3, below the maximal level of 300 Bq/m3 set by the World Health Organization (WHO). Relatively high values were recorded in the oldest building (15th century), which was also poorly ventilated. Ventilation appeared to be an important factor in reducing radon levels, especially in areas less exposed to radon, such as Southern Spain.
Assuntos
Poluentes Radioativos do Ar , Poluição do Ar em Ambientes Fechados , Monitoramento de Radiação , Radônio , Poluentes Radioativos do Ar/análise , Poluição do Ar em Ambientes Fechados/análise , Habitação , Humanos , Projetos Piloto , Radônio/análise , EspanhaRESUMO
Radon is a radioactive gas that can migrate from soils and rocks and accumulate in indoor areas such as dwellings and buildings. Many studies have shown a strong association between the exposure to radon, and its decay products, and lung cancer (LC), particularly in miners. In Mexico, according to published surveys, there is evidence of radon exposure in large groups of the population, nevertheless, only few attention has been paid to its association as a risk factor for LC. The aim of this ecological study is to evaluate the excess risk of lung cancer mortality in Mexico due to indoor radon exposure. Mean radon levels per state of the Country were obtained from different publications and lung cancer mortality was obtained from the National Institute of Statistics, Geography and Informatics for the period 2001-2013. A model proposed by the International Commission on Radiological Protection to estimate the annual excess risk of LC mortality (per 105 inhabitants) per dose unit of radon was used. The average indoor radon concentrations found rank from 51 to 1863 Bq m-3, the higher average dose exposure found was 3.13 mSv year-1 in the north of the country (Chihuahua) and the mortality excess of LC cases found in the country was 10 ± 1.5 (range 1-235 deaths) per 105 inhabitants. The highest values were found mainly in the Northern part of the country, where numerous uranium deposits are found, followed by Mexico City, the most crowded and most air polluted area in the country. A positive correlation (r = 0.98 p < 0.0001) was found between the excess of LC cases and the dose of radon exposure. Although the excess risk of LC mortality associated with indoor radon found in this study was relatively low, further studies are needed in order to accurately establish its magnitude in the country.
Assuntos
Poluentes Radioativos do Ar/efeitos adversos , Poluição do Ar em Ambientes Fechados/efeitos adversos , Neoplasias Pulmonares/mortalidade , Humanos , México/epidemiologia , Medição de RiscoRESUMO
This work consists of the detection and quantification of the concentration levels of radioactive gas radon-222 (222Rn) of natural origin, as well as the determination of the critical points and the estimation of the effective dose absorbed by the tourists and guides inside the Jumandy cavern in Napo, Ecuador. According to the feasibility map of uranium of Ecuador, the study area is located in one of the top-priority areas for obtaining uranium, suggesting possible radioactivity in this unstudied region. The measurements were carried out from July to October of 2017, in three different monitoring points inside the cavern. The average radon concentrations measured in the cavern exceeded the maximum recommended environmental level by a factor of 28, and the effective dose absorbed by the guides exceeded the recommended maximum by a f actor of 10. Meteorological parameters such as temperature and relative humidity have an impact on the 222Rn concentrations in different parts of the cave.
Assuntos
Poluentes Radioativos do Ar/análise , Cavernas/química , Monitoramento de Radiação , Radônio/análise , Relação Dose-Resposta à Radiação , Equador , Geografia , Umidade , Minerais/análise , TemperaturaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Uranium mining is associated with lung cancer and other health problems among miners. Health impacts are related with miner exposure to radon gas progeny. OBJECTIVES: This study estimates the health costs of excess lung cancer mortality among uranium miners in the largest uranium-producing district in the USA, centered in Grants, New Mexico. METHODS: Lung cancer mortality rates on miners were used to estimate excess mortality and years of life lost (YLL) among the miner population in Grants from 1955 to 2005. A cost analysis was performed to estimate direct (medical) and indirect (premature mortality) health costs. RESULTS: Total health costs ranged from $2·2 million to $7·7 million per excess death. This amounts to between $22·4 million and $165·8 million in annual health costs over the 1955-1990 mining period. Annual exposure-related lung cancer mortality was estimated at 2185·4 miners per 100 000, with a range of 1419·8-2974·3 per 100 000. CONCLUSIONS: Given renewed interest in uranium worldwide, results suggest a re-evaluation of radon exposure standards and inclusion of miner long-term health into mining planning decisions.