UNIVERSITY OF BUCHAREST
FACULTY OF PHYSICS

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2024-11-23 2:40
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Conference: Bucharest University Faculty of Physics 2023 Meeting


Section: Atmosphere and Earth Science; Environment Protection


Title:
Measurements of radon concentration in selected laboratories of the Faculty of Chemistry of the University of Bucharest


Authors:
Denisa Valentina NEGREANU(1,2), Teodora STAICU(2)


Affiliation:
1) Dositracker SRL

2) University of Bucharest, Faculty of Chemistry


E-mail
denisa.negreanu@rodos-lab.ro


Keywords:
RADON


Abstract:
Indoor air quality in a public buiding is of high importance especially in homes, offices, schools or universities, where people spend more than a half of their time. Measuring the indoor radioactive noble gas radon is, therefore, crucial as both the World Health Organization and the International Agency for Research in Cancer have identified radon as a first order human carcinogen. With regard to radon exposure in workplaces, each state imposes certain reference levels. Within the European Union, the Directive No 59/EURATOM on 5 December 2013 by Council of Europe recommends a value of 300 Bq m-3 not to be exceeded. The aim of this work is to monitor the radon concentration in five laboratories of the Faculty of Chemistry of the University of Bucharest. The selected rooms for the present study are used by both professors and students, and some of them store the sources of ionizing radiation. The main source of radon indoor buildings is the soil from which radon is constantly released. Building materials are also an important source of radon. The indoor radon concentrations are measured by Airthings Wave smart detectors Measurements were made between October 2020 and April 2021 and show that radon concentrations vary between 28 Bq/m3 and 120 Bq/m3, with an average of 40 Bq/m3. The maximum imposed level of 80Bq m-3 was never exceeded. In a single laboratory the activity concentration of radon reached higher values, up to 120 Bq/m-3. The data obtained showed a low risk from the point of view of radon exposure for students, while for professors, who spend a significantly higher time inside the laboratories, it is recommended to wear a respirator mask and to limit the exposure time when handling samples subjected to irradiation with neutron irradiation More ventilation is recommended especially after the weekend.