Radon exhalation and natural radiation exposure in low ventilated rooms

In the first part of this paper, the influence of radon (222Rn) exhalation rate from walls and air exchange upon its concentration in room air was considered using a simple mathematical room model. The exhalation rates have been determined in ten low ventilated rooms of ten villas in Jeddah city (Western Province) of Saudi Arabia. An electroprecipitation method has been applied for the determination of the 222Rn gas concentration in these rooms. The mean 222Rn gas concentration was found to be 46.80±8.80 Bq m−3. The mean 222Rn exhalation rate was estimated to be 20.11±6.90 Bq m−2 h−1. The mean inhalation dose due to the exposure to 222Rn gas was calculated to be 1.18±2.30 mSv y−1.The second part of this paper deals with a study of natural radionuclide contents of samples collected from the building materials of these rooms under investigations in part one. Analyses were performed in Marinelli beakers with a gamma spectroscopy system to quantify radioactivity concentrations. The collected samples revealed the presence of the uranium–radium (226Ra) and thorium (232Th) radioisotopes as well as 40K. The mean activity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K was determined to be 48.30±5.08, 43.90±5.63 and 223.90±7.55 Bq kg−1, respectively. These activities amount to a radium equivalent (Raeq) of 125.96±15.90 Bq kg−1 and to a mean value of external hazard index (Hex) of 0.34±0.04.

► Room model is used to study the influence of radon exhalation rate upon its concentration.
► We study the natural radionuclides from room building materials.
► Radon concentration in room air is influenced by exhalation and ventilation rates.
► Room building materials do not pose significant radiological hazard.