Radon gas indoors. Radioactive gas radon - what you need to know

This applies to everyone.

Let's start the article with a story about gas, the presence of which is detected only by devices designed to fix it, and medical workers, including oncologists, can detect its consequences.

This gas has no taste, no color, no smell; in various concentrations found in all building materials (the smallest concentrations in wood), we will perfectly dissolve in water. This gas has a high chemical activity and is highly radioactive.

This article is about gas. Radon (Rn222).

Harmful effects of gas Radon was first discovered in mining mines. The miners often suffered from respiratory diseases, and at first doctors believed that this was due to the increased content of coal dust in the air in the mines, but later it was found that the reason for this was radioactive Radon- 222. Further studies showed that this gas is formed in earth's crust at the breakup Radium-226 and is present everywhere in all rooms, and especially in the basement and on the first floors of buildings.

The concentration of this gas in different regions globe different. The highest concentration Radon-222 in the air occurs where there are faults in the upper layers of the earth's crust (North-Western region of Russia, the Urals, the Caucasus, the Altai Territory, Kemerovo region etc.). A map of radon-prone regions of Russia can now be found on the Internet, as well as on the website.

“The global radiation and hygienic significance of the problem of the Earth’s natural radiation background is due to the fact that natural sources of ionizing
radiation, and primarily radon isotopes and their short-lived daughter products, which are in the air of residential and other premises, make the main contribution to the exposure of the population. The values ​​of doses from natural sources largely determine the radiation situation in the region. At the same time, exposure doses to small groups of people can exceed the average levels by dozens of times.

Almost everywhere, radon isotopes make the largest contribution to the total dose ( 222Rn — radon And 220Rn — thoron) and their short-lived daughter products (DPR and DPT) in the air of residential and other premises ... ”- an explanatory note to the“ Federal target program reduction of public exposure Altai Territory at the expense of natural sources of ionizing radiation (RCP "RADON")".

The fact is that about 55% of cases of radiation damage to the population of the Earth are not associated with the use of nuclear energy, not with nuclear weapons testing and not with accidents at nuclear power plants, but with inhalation radon. Among non-smokers, the number one cause of lung cancer is radon, among smokers radon ranks second as the cause of disease lung cancer . The reason for such a strong impact Radon-222 on the human body is that it emits alpha waves that cause maximum harm to living organisms.

Researchers of the enterprise "Innovative Technologies" in Kazan, together with scientists from Kazan institutes, developed a coating that contains megnesite And shungite.

• magnesite is a natural mineral magnesium carbonate (MgCO3), is used to purify water and various gases, including air.
• Shungite- This is a specific rock, named after the Karelian village of Shunga on the shores of Lake Onega. There is its only deposit. The age of the rock is almost 2 billion years.

Shungite effectively absorbs toxic impurities from water, from biological fluids, as well as from gases, including air. Unique properties shungite have not been explained for a long time. As it turned out, this mineral mainly consists of carbon, a significant part of which is represented by special spherical molecules - fullerenes.

Fullerenes were first discovered in the laboratory when trying to model the processes occurring in space. And this new, third in a row (after diamond and graphite) crystalline form of carbon existence in nature was discovered by American scientists in 1985.

For the Russian Federation, the maximum concentration radon in the air of the residential and working areas in the premises is 100 becquerels. Often this figure is exceeded not only at times, but also dozens of times. Moreover, often MPC radon air is exceeded in buildings that are not in radon hazardous areas - it's a matter of soil features, materials from which the building was built, etc.

The main danger of Radon 222 is for children, since it is heavier than air and usually “spreads” closer to the floor in the room.

The unique composition developed by the Innovative Technologies enterprise to protect against the penetration of radon into indoor air was named R-COMPOSIT RADON (R-COMPOSITE RADON). It serves as a barrier that significantly reduces the penetration of radon into the air of premises for various purposes, up to its complete elimination.

R-COMPOSIT RADON Outwardly, it resembles ordinary paint, which, after drying, forms a polymer coating on the surface that is vapor-permeable, breathable and, at the same time, effectively retains Radon 222 molecules, preventing its penetration into the room air.

Applied RCOMPOSIT RADON using a brush, roller or high pressure spray gun. This coating can be tinted to any color, i.e. it can be given any color. Thus, R-COMPOSIT RADON is both a radon protection and a decorative coating at the same time.

A common problem is the use of unsuitable raw materials in the production of building materials. For example, if a quarry in which clay is mined for the production of expanded clay or ceramic bricks is located in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe fault of the upper layer of the earth's crust (and this cannot be determined with the "naked" eye), bricks and expanded clay made from this clay will emit radon.

Studies show that sometimes exceeding the level Radon-222 is fixed in the air of residential premises even on the 7th, 8th ... on the 10th floors. This may be due precisely to the content of radon in the building materials from which the building is built. In such houses, people, especially children, can often suffer from respiratory diseases, general weakness, decreased immunity, etc. can be observed.

If the walls of such a house that emit radon are coated from the inside R-COMPOSIT RADON its penetration into the air will be practically eliminated. At the same time, the coating itself is environmentally friendly, breathable, elastic, does not contain any organic solvents, and can be washed with soap. Besides R-COMPOSIT RADON applied to a non-combustible wall surface (brick, concrete, plaster, etc.) does not burn, thereby not increasing the fire hazard of the room.

Product R-COMPOSIT RADON fully tested and certified on the territory of the Russian Federation and has the entire set of necessary documents for use in construction. Used to eliminate the penetration of radon Rn222 in residential, public, children's educational and preschool institutions.

In 2012 R-COMPOSIT RADON was awarded the "Best Product of the Year in the Volga Federal District 2012" award. The manufacturer of these products (LLC "Innovative Technologies") was awarded the "Best Product of the Year in the Volga Federal District" two years in a row in 2011 and 2012 for the development and implementation of highly efficient innovative products.

R-COMPOSIT RADON is an effective tool to combat the ubiquitous killer gas.

You can get acquainted with other products of the manufacturer, as well as find out the details on the company's website or at the representative office in Cherepovets.

Researchers in the field of geology know that the temperature in earth mines or wells at a depth of 1 kilometer is plus 20-30 degrees Celsius, although it can be a severe winter on the surface at this time. As you go deeper into the bowels, the temperature increases by about 20-50 degrees for every kilometer. Where does this warmth come from? What is its source? Without going into details of the structure of the deep layers, we note that geothermal heat in the earth's crust is largely due to natural processes occurring inside the Earth. It is believed that this is facilitated by the natural radioactive decay of isotopes of uranium, thorium, potassium, rubidium. These and other radioactive elements are present in sufficient quantities in underground layers in the form of ores, as well as inclusions in geological formations. During the decay of uranium-238, uranium-235, thorium-232, a significant thermal energy and the accompanying radioactive gas, radon, which, gradually rising through the pores and cracks in the rock, reaches the earth's surface. It is estimated that the mass fraction of radon in the earth's crust is about 10 percent.

The history of the discovery of radon

Until about 1900, none of the scientists of that time knew anything about radon. But it was in this year that a prominent English physicist, the founder of nuclear physics, Ernest Rutherford, said his word about radon. This is the same person who discovered alpha and beta rays and who offered the world a planetary model of the atom. He also informed his colleagues about the discovery of a new gas, a chemical element with certain properties, the existence of which no one had previously suspected.

Fig.1. Table fragment periodic system elements D.I. Mendeleev.

Although Rutherford is considered by many to be the discoverer of radon, other scientists have also contributed to the discovery of the radioactive gas. The fact is that Rutherford experimented with the radon-220 isotope (the historical name is thoron), which has a half-life of 55.6 seconds. German chemist Frederick Ernst Dorn discovered the isotope radon-222 (half-life 3.82 days). Finally, the French scientist in the field of chemistry and physics Andre-Louis Debierne described the properties of another variety of radon-219 (historical name - actinon) with a half-life of 3.96 seconds. Such scientists as the American Robert Bowie Owens, the British Ramsey William Ramsay and Frederick Soddy were also involved in the study of radon, and it would be unfair to consign their works to oblivion.

Modern nuclear scientists claim that the radioactive gas radon has 35 isotopes known today with atomic masses from 195 to 229. Three of them, mentioned above, are born naturally, the rest are obtained artificially in the laboratory. Those isotopes of radon that are isolated from geological rocks are precisely the variants of the existence of natural radon (atomic masses 222, 220, 219). As it turned out, radon-222 carries the bulk of the radiation. In second place is radon-220, but its contribution to radiation is only 5 percent.

Physical and Chemical properties radon

The properties of radon are amazing, it is classified as a noble inert gas, like neon or argon, which are in no hurry to react with any substances. This is a heavy gas, in comparison with air it turns out that it is 7.5 times heavier. Therefore, radon, under the influence of gravitational forces, tends to fall below the air mass. The radon that is released from the ground will accumulate mainly in the basement. The gas emitted from the building material of ceilings and walls will be located on the floor of the floors of buildings. The radon emitted from the water in the shower room will first fill the entire volume of the room and exist in the form of an aerosol, then it will descend to the lower surface. In kitchens, radon released from combustible natural gas will eventually also tend to sink to the floor and surroundings.

Fig.2. The concentration of radon in the air in different rooms of the house.

Since radon is odorless, colorless and cannot be tasted in any way, an ordinary person, not armed with special devices, will not be able to detect it. However, the high radioactivity of the gas purified from impurities under the action of the energy of alpha particles initiates the effect of fluorescence in it. In a gaseous state at room temperature, as well as in liquid form (formation conditions - minus 62 degrees Celsius), radon emits a blue glow. In solid crystalline form at temperatures below 71 degrees, the color of fluorescence changes from yellow to orange-red.

What is the special danger of alpha particles?

The alpha particles emitted by radon are invisible but insidious enemies. They carry great energy. And although ordinary clothing completely protects a person from this type of radiation, the danger lies in the ingress of radon into the respiratory tract, as well as into the gastrointestinal tract. Alpha particles are heavy, high-caliber artillery that inflicts the greatest harm body. Physicists have established that during the decay of radon isotopes and daughter products, each alpha particle has an initial energy of 5.41 to 8.96 MeV. The mass of such particles is 7500 times greater than the mass of electrons, which is a stream of beta particles, which can be compared by the same analogy with a machine-gun burst. Then gamma irradiation will look like just mass shooting from small arms.

Fig.3. The danger of different types of radioactive radiation.

The invisible gas radon, which produces alpha particles, is indeed a tangible threat to human health. According to the UN Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), the contribution of radioactive radon to the annual human exposure dose is 75 percent of all natural radioactive processes of terrestrial origin and half of the dose from all possible natural sources of radiation (including terrestrial and space). In addition, the daughter decay products of radon - lead, polonium and bismuth - are very dangerous for the human body and can cause cancer.

Moreover, it has been established that the activity of the daughter products of radon is 90 percent of all radiation emanating from the ancestor. For example, radon-222 in the chain of nuclear transformations generates polonium-218 (half-life 3.1 minutes), polonium-214 (0.16 milliseconds) and polonium-210 (138.4 days). These elements also emit destructive alpha particles with energies of 6.12 MeV, 7.88 MeV and 5.41 MeV, respectively. Similar processes are observed with the parent isotopes radon-220 and radon-219. These facts indicate that the effect of radon should not be ignored, and that all possible measures should be taken to reduce its effect.

The danger of radon from the point of view of medicine

Physicians have calculated that the biological effect of alpha particles on the cellular tissues of the body has a 20 times greater destructive effect than beta particles or gamma radiation. According to researchers from the United States, the ingestion of radon isotopes and its daughter decay products into the human lungs leads to lung cancer. According to scientists, radon inhaled by a person initiates local burns in the lung tissue and is the sixth in the list of causes of cancer that causes death. The researchers note that the effects of radon on the body are especially dangerous in combination with the habit of smoking. It is noted that smoking and radon are the two most significant factors in the occurrence of lung cancer, and when they act together, the danger increases dramatically. The results of observations were recently published, and it was concluded that due to the effects of internal alpha radiation on the human body in the United States, about 20 thousand people die of lung cancer every year. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified radon as a Class I carcinogen.

Fig.4. Sources of radiation affecting humans.

Important concepts and units of measurement

For a correct understanding of the processes of radioactive decay of radon and the danger it poses to the human body, it is important to know the basic terminology and units of measurement. Let's consider these concepts.

1. The activity (A) of a radionuclide is measured in becquerels (Bq), 1 Bq corresponds to 1 disintegration per second. An off-system unit, the curie (Ci), is also used to denote high activity, 1 curie is equal to 37 billion becquerels.
2. Volumetric (specific) activity (VA) is the number of disintegrations per unit volume of a substance, for example, Bq / m3, Bq / l or Bq / kg (becquerel per cubic meter, becquerel per liter, becquerel per kilogram, respectively). Specific activity is often referred to as area: Ci/km2 - curie per square kilometer.
3. Equilibrium volumetric activity (ROA) is the same as OA, but takes into account the time factor during which the initial activity of the daughter decay products will come to an equilibrium state with its parent due to the gradual extinction of the life of short-lived radionuclides. Measured in OA units
4. Equivalent equilibrium volume activity (EEVA) is used to evaluate the activity of a mixture of short-lived daughter decay products that have not yet come to equilibrium. In practice, this is a value adjusted by weighting factors for each type of significant isotope and equivalent to the ROA in terms of latent energy. A mathematical formula is used to determine EEVA. There is also a simpler way to calculate ERVA: by multiplying the current value of RA and the coefficient characterizing the shift in the radioactive equilibrium of radon and its daughter products in air mass. As a rule, the coefficient is chosen equal to 0.5. Usually, EEVA is calculated and given as an average annual activity and is measured in Bq/m3.

Current radiation safety standards

Limit values ​​for the concentration of radon in indoor air can be found in such normative documents, as NRB-99 or SP 2.6.1.758-99 (Radiation Safety Standards), OSPORB-99 (Basic Sanitary Rules), SP 2.6.1.1292-2003 (Sanitary Rules), as well as in the guidelines MU 2.6.1.715-98. As the standards indicate, in residential and public (non-industrial) premises where people are expected to stay for a long time, EEVA per year should not exceed 200 Bq / m3 (for buildings in operation) and 100 Bq / m3 (for new buildings put into operation) on average . If these values ​​are not maintained, then the radiation safety of living in such structures is not guaranteed.

Methods for analyzing and monitoring the radon environment

There are a great many methods for analyzing the activity of radon and thoron, and each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. Those that meet the following requirements have found practical application: simplicity of the technique, short measurement time with acceptable analysis accuracy, minimum cost of equipment and consumables, and the lowest costs for personnel training. To date, the following methods are used in the practice of dosimetric monitoring of radon and its decay products:

• Sorption (absorption) of radon from environment activated carbon. It happens passive (spontaneous) and active, by pumping the test air at a certain speed through a column of coal. At the end of the measurement process, the initial properties of activated carbon can be restored by calcination.
• Instead of an activated carbon column, special disposable filters can be used as consumables. Radon isotopes and its decay products are deposited on the filters in the same way that a household vacuum cleaner traps dust and small debris in a fabric bag filtering the air.
• There is also a method of electrostatic deposition of radon daughter products on a detector that is sensitive to alpha radiation. In this case, the effect of electrostatic force is used, which attracts dust particles and microdroplets of air aerosols, concentrating them on the detector.

After collecting the samples, they are examined by means of dosimetric control, using, for example, spectrometric analysis, a plastic scintillation detector, a Geiger counter, and the like. In some devices, the operation of air intake with radon and the evaluation of radioactive radiation occur simultaneously.

Professional and household means of detection of radon.

Radon and its decay products dangerous to humans are considered alpha emitters, so most household and professional dosimeters that have gamma and beta measurement modes will not be able to detect it. Instruments that have the ability to evaluate alpha radiation will also be of little use, since they will not be able to calculate the concentration of radon in the air samples being studied. After all, for this you need to follow the provisions of a certain measurement methodology. Therefore, professional instruments, radon concentration meters, are used for such an analysis. Many of them are arranged in approximately the same way, they contain devices for sampling the studied air and dosimetric means for monitoring EEVA. The air containing radionuclides is pumped through the collecting filter for a long time (from several hours to several days), then the volumetric alpha activity of the accumulated portion is determined. Professional devices of this type include RGA-04 (Integral radon radiometer), RRA-01M-01 (Radon radiometer), RAA-10 (Aerosol radiometer), KAMERA (Measuring complex for radon monitoring) and others. These devices are quite bulky, weighing up to 6 kg or more. Some of them have wide functionality. The basic relative error of EEVA measurement is 15-30 percent, depending on the range and mode of operation.

Fig.5. Professional and individual radon radiometers.

For domestic purposes, the designers solved the problem of determining the concentration of radon in the air with the help of a modern element base, using a control microprocessor and specially developed software algorithms. The entire measurement process, which complies with standardized guidelines, has been fully automated. We are talking about the detector-indicator of radon SIRAD MR-106. The device works on the principle of electrostatic deposition of the daughter decay products of radon-222 on a detector sensitive to alpha particles and can evaluate the ERVA of the collected radionuclides. The weight of the device is about 350 g without batteries (two sources of AA size), and its dimensions are pocket-size, literally words. When the device is turned on and enters the current mode, it begins to function and accumulate information data. The first result appears after 4 hours of operation, then the device enters the monitoring state with periodic correction of the measurement result (average mode). There is also a threshold mode with audible alarm for exceeding the threshold (100 Bq/m3 and 200 Bq/m3). The device is intended for interested non-specialists and its operation does not require training.

The time recommended by experts for the examination of one room with an area of ​​\u200b\u200bno more than 50 square meters– not less than 72 hours. Long-term analysis of radon is due to the factor that over time, the measurement results may differ from each other by 10 times. Longer measurements will allow you to accumulate sufficient information to obtain a reliable averaged result with the smallest error.

How to reduce the risk of exposure to radon?

Radioactive gas radon is unevenly distributed over the territories where the population lives. Due to the geological features natural conditions the group of radon hazardous can include certain areas of the Urals and Karelia, Stavropol, Altai and Krasnoyarsk Territories, Chita, Tomsk and other regions, as well as in many regions of Ukraine. Today, geographic maps of radon activity throughout the country are compiled, which reflect the overall radon picture. However, in each specific place, the activity of radioactive gas can differ several times in one direction or another and many times exceed the maximum permissible norms. There are anomalous places with EEVA values ​​of 2000–10000 Bq/m3. In addition, radon measurements can change significantly over time. Therefore, only periodic monitoring can contribute to a reliable solution of the issue of radiation safety.

Fig.6. A fragment of the radon hazard risk map.

We note the main sources of radon and its daughter products:

• earth soil
• Construction Materials
• water, especially from deep-water artesian wells
• natural combustible gas

Knowing the sources of radon entering the environment and human dwellings, it is possible to develop means of counteracting and combating this undesirable phenomenon. They consist in the following rules:

1. Carefully choose a site for the construction of a residential building, with a minimum concentration of radon in the ground.
2. In low-rise buildings, it is desirable to equip basements.
3. Living rooms are best located on the upper floors of buildings.
4. Do not use hazardous building materials for building a house (expanded clay, pumice, granite, phosphogypsum, alumina, slag concrete), preference should be given to wood, as well as materials that have passed radon radiation control.
5. Pay sufficient attention to the sealing of intermediate floors, floors and floor coverings.
6. To seal cracks, pores and cracks - walls and ceilings must be treated with mastics, sealants, then epoxy resin paints and other facing materials.
7. Do not stay for a long time in unventilated areas of the house, in the basement or cellar.
8. Organize regular natural ventilation of living rooms and basements.
9. Arrange effective forced ventilation of the house or apartment.
10. Do not try to arrange excessive sealing of windows and doors in rooms in order to allow natural air circulation.
11. Water from deep-sea sources should be boiled and not drunk raw.
12. Use carbon filters to purify water, which can retain 90 percent of radon.
13. Eliminate the inhalation of moist air, reduce the time spent in the shower room, take a shower less often, arrange ventilation and mandatory ventilation before using the shower by other family members.
14. Above the gas stove, it is necessary to equip the exhaust ventilation system.

In addition, it is necessary to systematically monitor the concentration of radon in various areas of the house in order to identify dangerous places. Having an individual device at hand, it is possible to evaluate the effectiveness of countermeasures carried out in houses where people live. The assessment of the amount of accumulated radon in the room is carried out immediately before the event and after its implementation. The obtained values ​​are compared with each other. Such measurements should be made under the same conditions, taking into account the natural movement of air as a result of a draft, closed or open doors and windows, as well as the functioning of the ventilation system.

Here is another useful possibility of using a radioactive gas detector-indicator. The scientific fact is known that before earthquakes, the concentration of radon in the earth's surface increases abruptly, due to the displacement of tectonic plates and the increase in mechanical stress between them with the accompanying vibration in the earth's crust (microseismic activity). This gives a chance to predict a catastrophe. If you conduct daily monitoring of the concentration of radon in the air, then it is quite possible to record an abrupt increase in the value of EEVA, have time to warn others about this and take the necessary safety measures.

Which radon indicator to choose?

RADIATION HAZARD
IN THE AIR - RADON

“... more than half of the annual dose from all
natural sources of radiation man
receives through the air, irradiating with radon
your lungs while breathing
SOROSOV EDUCATIONAL JOURNAL, VOL. 6, No. 3, 2000

WHAT IS USEFUL TO KNOW ABOUT RADON AND THE RADON DETECTOR - INDICATOR "SIRAD MP106"?

1. INTRODUCTION

2. NEO REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE ABOUT RADON

What is radon?
Where does radon come from?
How does radon affect health?
How does radon lead to lung cancer?
When did radon start causing trouble?
Do you need to check at home? Yes.
How does radon get into the house?

3. HOME EXAMINATION

How to detect radon?
How to organize a home inspection?
What do the survey results mean?
The urgency of taking protective measures.
Should other factors be considered?

4. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

1. INTRODUCTION

Historically, the harmful effect of natural air radioactivity on the human body was noticed as early as the 16th century, when the mysterious “mountain sickness” of miners attracted the attention of doctors: mortality from lung diseases among miners in some mines in the Czech Republic and Germany was 50 times higher than among the rest of the population. The reason for this has already been explained in our time - there was a high concentration of radon in the air of these mines.
Assumptions about the possibility of radiologically harmful effects of radon on the population arose in the late 1960s, when American experts discovered that the concentration of radon in the air of residential buildings, especially one-story buildings, often exceeded the level considered dangerous even for mines. Prior to 1980, no country in the world established standards for indoor radon content, and only in recent decades have standards been introduced for existing and planned buildings, recommended International Commission for radiological protection. NATO even created a special committee on this issue, and in the US, almost every home now has radon level sensors.
In our country, standards for the content of radon in the air of residential buildings were adopted in 1990, but the equipment was purely professional, and the “radon problem” has so far remained the area of ​​interest only for specialists in the field of radiometry. The emergence of new household appliances - "radon indicators" - made possible examination of your house (apartment) on your own. The required minimum knowledge for conducting an examination is given in Sections 2 and 3. When compiling these sections, the literature was used, the data on which are given in Section 4. When conducting an examination on your own, remember that you must carefully study the manufacturer's instructions for the device and strictly follow all its requirements, so how the cost of protective measures directly depends on the results obtained, and hence on the accuracy of the survey.

So, radon - how to detect it, assess the reality of the danger and protect yourself from this threat?

2. NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE ABOUT RADON.

What is radon?

Radon is a radioactive gas that is ubiquitous in nature. It is almost 7.5 times heavier than air, dissolves well in water, has no color, taste or smell.

Where does radon come from?

Radon is produced by the natural radioactive decay of uranium, so radon is found in high concentrations in soil and rocks containing radioactive elements. Radon can also be emitted from soils containing certain types of industrial waste, such as waste rock from mining and processing plants and mines.
Outdoors, radon concentrations are so low that they are not usually a concern. However, inside enclosed spaces (such as a home), radon accumulates. The level of radon content in a building is determined both by the composition of building materials and by the concentration of radon in the soil under the building. Another source of radon in residential premises is water and natural gas. The concentration of radon in tap water is extremely low. However, water from some sources, especially from deep wells or artesian wells, contains a lot of radon - up to 1400 kBq / m3 *, or 3,000,000 times more than in lake or river water. In natural gas, radon penetrates underground. During the processing and storage of gas before it enters the consumer, most of the radon escapes, but the concentration of radon in the room can increase markedly if stoves, heating and other heating devices in which gas is burned are not equipped with an exhaust hood.

How does radon affect health?

The main health impact of radon is an increased risk of lung cancer. Of course, not every excess level leads to the development of lung cancer, but evidence shows that the risk of developing lung cancer from radon exposure depends on the concentration of radon.

*Bq (becquerel) - a unit of measurement of radionuclide activity, equal to one spontaneous transition from a certain nuclear energy state of the nuclide in a time of 1 s.

How does radon lead to lung cancer?

Radon itself naturally decays and forms radioactive decay products. When radon and its decay products are inhaled into the lungs, the decay process continues. This leads to small bursts of released energy already inside the lung tissues, they can be destroyed, contributing to the appearance of oncological diseases.

When did radon start causing trouble?

Concerns about unusually high indoor radon concentrations first arose in the late 1960s, when homes built from materials containing industrial waste. Then in Europe they faced this problem. In Sweden, Finland (especially in Helsinki) and the UK, houses have been found with radon concentrations thousands of times higher than typical outdoor levels. The reasons are the radon hazard of soil and building materials, as well as the struggle to save energy. To reduce heat loss, houses in those years began to be especially carefully sealed. As a result, for every kilowatt of electricity saved on heating due to the sealing of the premises, the Swedes received an additional dose of radiation. In addition, in Sweden, for several decades, local alumina was used in the production of concrete - about 700 thousand houses were built with their use, later it was discovered that these alumina are very radioactive. Of the other building materials, granite and pumice are often mentioned, which were widely used in Germany and Russia. Another popular material - phosphogypsum (a by-product obtained from the processing of phosphate ores, a cheap substitute for natural gypsum), was widely used in the manufacture of building blocks, plaster, partitions and cement. In Japan alone, 3 million tons of this material were used in 1974. People living in "phosphogypsum" houses were exposed to 30% more intense radiation than in ordinary dwellings. High radioactivity has a waste of aluminum production - red clay and, accordingly, a brick made from this raw material.

Do you need to check at home? Yes.

The problem is that it is necessary to conduct an individual survey of each house and, if necessary, choose a method of protection against radon (ensuring sufficient air exchange, concreting basements, coating the surfaces of building structures with a sealant, etc.). If you suspect high levels of radon in your home, then you should decide to either do a self-examination or contact your regional radiation protection center in order to determine the level of radon.

How does radon get into the house?

Radon is a gas that can diffuse through voids in the soil and in the materials your home is built from. Radon can seep through dirt floors, cracks in concrete floors and walls, floor drains, drains, joints, cracks or pores in hollow block walls.
Radon is highly soluble in water, so it is contained in all natural waters, and, as a rule, it is noticeably more in deep groundwater than in surface drains and reservoirs. For example, in groundwater, its concentration can be a million times higher than in lakes and rivers.
Radon enters the room atmosphere from the water, escaping from the air bubbles contained in the water. This occurs most intensively when water is sprayed, evaporated or boiled (for example, in a shower or steam room). When using large public water tanks, radon is usually not harmful, because. evaporates before the water enters the house.
Radon is emitted from building materials if materials with a relatively high content of radium (uranium, thorium) or capable of releasing radioactive gases were used, while low radioactivity for other types of radiation does not guarantee radon safety.
However, the main, most likely way of radon accumulation in the premises is associated with the release of radon directly from the soil on which the building is built.
In the practice of geological research, it is not uncommon for weakly radioactive rocks to contain radon in their voids and cracks in quantities hundreds and thousands of times greater than more radioactive rocks. With seasonal fluctuations in temperature and air pressure, radon is released into the atmosphere. The erection of buildings and structures directly above such fissure zones leads to the fact that these structures from the bowels of the Earth continuously receive a stream of ground air containing high concentrations of radon, which, accumulating in the air of the premises, creates a serious radiological hazard for the people in them. There are cases when in industrial basements equipped with exhaust ventilation, the concentration of radon due to air suction from the soil reached 8,000–10,000 Bq/m3, which exceeded the norm by 40–50 times.
To date, quite extensive information has been accumulated in various countries on the content of radon in residential and office premises. These data are constantly updated and refined, so the ideas about the average and maximum concentrations of radon in buildings are changing. From this point of view, the results of the survey of houses are interesting.

Radon content in buildings.

The level of radon concentration in the atmosphere of houses significantly depends on the natural and artificial ventilation of the room, the thoroughness of sealing windows, wall joints and vertical communication channels, the frequency of room ventilation, etc. For example, the highest concentrations of radon in residential buildings are found in cold period year, when measures are traditionally taken to warm the premises and reduce the exchange of air with the environment. However, properly implemented supply and exhaust ventilation provides the best results in reducing radon risk in existing buildings. An analysis of radon activity shows that even a single air exchange per hour reduces the concentration of radon by almost a hundred times.

3. HOME EXAMINATION

How to detect radon?

Because it is impossible to see or smell radon, special equipment is needed to detect it. There is a variety of equipment (both professional and household) designed for continuous or periodic monitoring of radon content in premises and providing for obtaining data during the survey. These are AIR-CHEK USA, RADHOME France and others. In Russia, similar household appliances are produced under the brand name at the Moscow Engineering Physics Institute (State University). The SIRAD MR-106 radon detector is the first household indicator of air radioactivity developed in Russia - one of the most dangerous types of radioactivity due to its high biological efficiency (20 times higher than other types of radiation), and leading to internal exposure. It is impossible to do without air, so it should not be dangerous. By using "SIRAD MR-106" to periodically check the atmosphere at home, you will always be sure that neither natural nor man-made (resulting from technical activities) air radioactivity threatens anyone living in your home.

How to organize a home inspection?

When conducting an examination, remember that it is necessary to carefully study the instructions of the device manufacturer and strictly comply with all its requirements, since the cost of protective measures directly depends on the results obtained, and hence on the accuracy of the examination.

What do the survey results mean?

Remember that you can almost completely protect yourself from radon, just the cost of protective work directly depends on how carefully the examination was carried out and the results are reliable.
If the danger is small, then the costs will be small - it is often enough to carefully paint or paste over the walls of the premises.
The survey results allow you to imagine the real risk of having radon in your home. A visual way to represent the risk associated with radon exposure is to compare it with the risk from other harmful exposures. According to the US Department of Health, being in a room with a radon concentration of 7400 Bq/m^3 is 60 (sixty!) times more dangerous than smoking two packs of cigarettes a day, and exposure to air with a concentration of 370 Bq/m^3 during the year is comparable with 500-fold irradiation of the lungs during fluoroscopy.

The urgency of taking protective measures.

Whether to do something, and how urgently, is explained by the recommendations below, based on the results of the survey. Obviously, it is necessary to try to reduce the level of radon as much as possible. Taking into account recent information, it is believed that the level in most houses can be reduced to 100 ... ). Remember, the urgency of action depends on the concentration of radon. The higher the level of radon in the house, the faster the situation needs to be improved.

* If your results are 7400 Bq/m^3 or higher:

This level is the highest found in the houses. Residents should take whatever steps are necessary to keep levels as low as possible. It is recommended to do this within a few weeks. If possible, you should consult with your local health center or radiation protection center to determine whether temporary relocation is appropriate until the radon levels in the home are reduced.

* If your results are 740 -7400 Bq/m^3:

This level is much higher than that allowed for dwellings. You must do everything necessary to reduce the level as low as possible. It is recommended to do this within a few months.

* If your results are 200 -740 Bq/m^3:

This level is higher than acceptable for dwellings. You must do whatever is necessary to bring the level down to 150 Bq/m^3 or below. We recommend doing this within a few years, or sooner if results are closer to upper bound interval.

* If your results do not exceed 150 Bq/m^3:

This level is acceptable for dwellings or slightly exceeds it.

Should other factors be considered?

The main risk information provided in this message, as well as recommendations for risk mitigation, apply to general case. Your specific living conditions may affect the degree of risk and require additional measures. The danger of exposure to radon depends on the amount of radon that enters the room and the time you spend in it. The following steps will help reduce your risk from radon exposure immediately. These measures can be taken quickly and at low cost.

*Stop smoking in the home - smoking increases radon exposure, radon-related lung cancers are three times higher among smokers than non-smokers.
*Spend less time in radon-prone areas of your home, such as the basement.
*Open windows more often and turn on fans to bring more outside air into your home. This is especially important for basements.
*If your house has a ventilated space between the floor of the first floor and the ground, keep the air dampers open on all sides of the house at all times.

Having completed the above, proceed to radical, long-term measures that exclude the penetration of radon into your home. We recommend conducting control examinations during the reconstruction, making sure that the measures taken, let the atmosphere of your home be truly clean and healthy.

Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences,
Professor MEPhI N.M. Gavrilov

4. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

Consolidated telephone directory of organizations operating
in the field of nature protection and protection of human health.

Interregional Neutralization Association
radioactive waste - special plants "RADON".

Sixteen special plants "RADON" make up an extensive inter-regional system of neutralization of radioactive waste. In 2000, the special plants merged into their own Association. The following territories are assigned to each plant:

1. MosNPO"Radon"- Moscow, Bryansk, Kaluga, Tver, Yaroslavl, Vladimir, Tula, Ryazan, Kostroma, Smolensk regions.
2. Leningradsky SC- Leningrad, Pskov, Novgorod, Vologda, Kaliningrad regions, Karelia.
3. Volgograd SK- Volgograd, Astrakhan regions, Kalmykia.
4. Nizhny Novgorod SC- Nizhny Novgorod, Ivanovo, Kirov regions, Mordovia, Komi Republic.
5. Grozny SC- North Ossetia, Dagestan, Chechen, Ingush, Kabardino-Balkarian republics.
6. Irkutsk SC- Irkutsk, Chita regions, Buryat Republic, Republic of Tuva.
7. Kazan SC- Tatarstan, Republic of Mari El, Chuvash, Udmurt Republics.
8. Samara SC- Samara, Ulyanovsk, Orenburg region.
9. Murmansk SC- Murmansk, Arkhangelsk regions.
10. Novosibirsk SC- Novosibirsk, Tomsk, Kemerovo, Omsk regions.
11. Rostov SC- Rostov region, Stavropol, Krasnodar regions.
12. Saratov SC— Saratov, Penza, Belgorod, Lipetsk, Kursk, Oryol, Tambov regions.
13. Sverdlovsk SK- Sverdlovsk, Perm, Tyumen regions, Khanty-Mansiysk, Yamalo-Nenets national districts.
14. Ufimsky SC— Bashkortostan.
15. Chelyabinsk SC- Chelyabinsk, Kurgan regions.
16. Khabarovsk SC- Kamchatka, Sakhalin, Magadan, Amur Regions, Khabarovsk, Primorsky Territories, the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia).

Literature used, in which, in addition, you can find additional information about the "radon problem"

1. REMINDER ON RADON FOR CITIZENS. "What is it and how to deal with it?". United States Environmental Protection Agency, Atmospheric and Radiation Service. US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control. August 1986 ORA 86 004.
2. RADIATION: Doses, effects, risk. Per. from English, M.: Mir, 1998.
3. SOROSOV EDUCATIONAL JOURNAL, VOLUME, № 1, 1997
Utkin V. I. Gas breathing of the earth.
4. SOROSOV EDUCATIONAL JOURNAL, VOL. 6, No. 3, 2000
Utkin V. I. Radon problem in ecology.
5. ENVIRONMENTAL BULLETIN "Green Leaf" No. 6 (25), 2001, p. 4."ATTENTION, RADON!"
6. A.D. Vlasov, B.P. Murin. UNITS OF PHYSICAL QUANTITIES IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. Handbook, M.: EAI, 1990, p. 63-64.

Radioactive elements of natural and man-made origin surround man everywhere.

Once in the body, they have a detrimental effect on cells.

Of the natural most dangerous in this regard, the radioactive gas radon is considered, which is formed everywhere during the decay of the radioactive elements radium and uranium, thorium and actinium, as well as others.

The permissible dose of radon for a person is 10 times less than the permissible dose of beta and gamma radiation.

Just 1 hour after intravenous injection of even a small dose of 10 microcuries of radon into the blood of an experimental rabbit, the number of leukocytes in the blood decreases sharply and then the lymph nodes and blood-forming organs, the spleen, and bone marrow begin to be affected.

Radon in nature

Radon is a gas that is colorless and odorless, poisonous and radioactive. Radon is easily soluble in liquid (water) and fatty tissues of living organisms.

Radon is quite heavy, it is 7.5 times heavier than the weight of air, so it "lives" in the thickness of the earth's rocks and is gradually released into the atmospheric air in a mixture with the flows of other, lighter gases, such as hydrogen, carbon dioxide, entraining it to the surface. methane, nitrogen, etc.

Due to its chemical inertness, radon can migrate for a long time through cracks, soil pores and rock cracks over long distances, until it comes to our house.

The concentration of radon in the air largely depends on the geological situation of the area, for example, granites containing a lot of uranium are active sources of radon, and at the same time, the concentration of radon over the surface of the seas and oceans is low.

The concentration also depends on the weather and season - during rain, microcracks through which radon enters from the soil are filled with water, snow cover also prevents radon from entering the air). It has been noted that before earthquakes, the concentration of radon in the air increases, probably due to more active exchange of air in the soil with an increase in microseismic activity.

There is very little radon in nature, it is one of the least common on the planet. chemical elements. Science estimates the content of radon in the atmosphere at 7 10–17% by weight. But there is very little of it in the earth's crust either - it is formed mainly from the unique ultra-rare radium. Nevertheless, these few radon atoms are very visible with the help of special measuring instruments.

Radon in a residential building

The main components of the radiation background of a dwelling largely depend on the person. Radon enters our house from the soil of the site on which the house stands, through the walls, the foundation of the building, with tap water, and then settles and concentrates on the lower floors, basements and rises with air currents to the upper floors of the building.

Of great importance in protecting buildings from radon are both the constructive solutions of buildings and the quality of building materials, the ventilation systems used, and the winter masonry mortar used. Building materials to varying degrees, depending on their quality, also contain a dose of radioactive elements.

A great danger can be the ingress of radon gas with water vapor when using saunas, showers, baths, steam rooms. Radon is also found in natural gas, so when using gas stoves in the kitchen, it is recommended to install a hood to protect against the accumulation and concentration of radon.

According to Federal Law RF "On radiation safety of the population" and radiation safety standards, when designing any building, the average annual activity of radon isotopes in indoor air should not exceed the standards, otherwise the question arises of developing and implementing protective measures, and sometimes demolition or re-profiling of the building.

In order to protect your home from this harmful radioactive gas on your own, you need to carefully close up the cracks and cracks in the walls and floors, glue the wallpaper, seal the basements, and also ventilate the room more often - the concentration of radon gas in an unventilated room can be 8 times more.

Currently, many countries conduct environmental monitoring of the concentration of radon gas in buildings. It has been established that in areas of geological faults in the crust, radon concentrations in rooms can be huge and significantly exceed the average for other regions.

Impact on living organisms

Scientists have found that radon gas makes the largest contribution to human radiation exposure - more than 50% of the total dose of radiation received by humans from natural and man-made radionuclides.

The main part of human exposure comes from the decay products of radon gas - isotopes of lead, bismuth and polonium. The products of this decay, entering the lungs of a person along with air, linger in them, and decaying, they release alpha particles that affect epithelial cells.

Such decay of radon nuclei in the lung tissue causes "microburns", and an increased concentration of radon in the air can lead to lung cancer. Additionally, alpha particles cause irreversible damage to the chromosomes of human bone marrow cells, and this increases the risk of developing leukemia. The most vulnerable to radon gas are reproductive, hematopoietic and immune cells.

All particles of ionizing radiation are capable of damaging the human hereditary code, without showing themselves in any way until the cell begins to divide. Then we can already talk about cell mutations that lead to disruptions in the life of the human body.

The combination of exposure to two poisons - radon and smoking - is very dangerous. Determined that Radon is the second most common cause of lung cancer after smoking. In turn, lung cancer, which is caused by radon exposure, is the sixth most common cause of death from cancer in the world.

Not so much the radon gas itself lingers in the body, but rather the radioactive products of its decay. Researchers who have worked with solid radon emphasize the opacity of this substance. And there is only one reason for opacity: the instantaneous settling of solid decay products.

These products "give out" the whole complex of radiations:

Alpha rays - low-penetrating, but very energetic;

beta rays;

Hard gamma radiation.

The benefits of radon

Radon is used in medical practice for the preparation of radon baths, which have long occupied a prominent place in the arsenal of resorts and physiotherapy. It is known that radon dissolved in ultra-doses in water has a positive effect both on the central nervous system and many other bodily functions.

However, the role of radon-222 itself is minimal here, because it emits only alpha particles, the bulk of which is retained by water and does not enter the skin. But the active plaque of radon gas decay products continues to act on the body even after the procedure is terminated. It is believed that radon baths are an effective treatment for many diseases (cardiovascular, skin, diseases of the nervous system).

Radon water is also prescribed internally to affect the digestive organs. Radon muds, inhalation of radon-enriched air are also considered effective.

But must be taken into account that, like any potent remedy, radon procedures require constant medical supervision and a very precise dosage. You need to know that for some human diseases, radon therapy is absolutely contraindicated.

Medicine uses for procedures both natural radon waters and artificially prepared ones. In medicine, radon is obtained from radium, of which only a few milligrams is enough for a clinic to prepare dozens of radon baths daily for a very long period.

Zoologists radon is used in agricultural production to activate pet food.

In the metallurgical industry radon is used as an indicator in determining the rate of gas flows in blast furnaces and gas pipelines.

Geologists radon helps to find deposits of uranium and thorium, hydrologists- helps to investigate interactions between ground and surface waters. The change in the concentration of radon gas in groundwater is used to predict earthquakes and volcanic eruptions seismologists.

We can rightly say about radon: the heaviest, most expensive, rarest, but also the most dangerous gas for humans from all existing gases on Earth. Therefore, with effective and timely measures to protect a residential building from its uninvited penetration, radon can be made to usefully serve people.

Discussion (comments 0) :

Log cabins in Rus' were called wooden structures, the walls of which were assembled from processed logs. This is how huts, temples, towers of wooden kremlins and other structures of wooden architecture were built. A log house and various wooden fences for the terrace are being built from softwood and hardwood logs. Such wood must be dry, free of rot, cracks, fungus, and not infected by the tree beetle.

Gone are the days when in the USSR citizens were allocated plots of land from 4 to 6 acres for gardens, on which it was allowed to build a one-story house no larger than 3 by 5 meters - a kind of dacha household block for storing garden tools and other dacha utensils year-round. But even then, electricity was supplied to many garden plots, and water supply in the gardens was provided by supplying pipes with water or digging wells.

Often our knowledge and understanding of any potentially dangerous phenomenon is limited enough to take it seriously. On the one hand, the absence of worries about this makes our life much easier, but on the other hand, at a critical moment in the face of danger, we find ourselves completely unprepared to protect our own health. Something like this is the case with radon, which many have heard of, but not many know what kind of animal it is.

A considerable proportion of the population perceives radon only in connection with therapeutic radon baths, and therefore some people experience extreme bewilderment when they are told that under normal conditions, constant contact with radon does not heal so much as cripples.

Let's see under what circumstances radon is useful, and when it becomes harmful.

What is radon?

Radon is an inert gas that is colorless and odorless. The trouble is that this gas is radioactive, that is, when it decays, it becomes a source of ionizing radiation. There are four isotopes of radon in nature, but two are best known - radon (Rn 222) and thoron (Rn 220). The other two isotopes (Rn 219 and Rn 218) are very unstable and “live” after their appearance for such a short time that we have practically no chance of encountering them face to face.

Radon (Rn 222) is the longest-lived of this family, which is why we can meet it in our daily life.

Where does radon come from?

Like most radioactive elements, radon is obtained from other radioactive elements, for example, Rn 222 is a fission product of radium nuclei, and those in turn appear after the decay of uranium. Thus, soil is the source of radon, whose rocks contain a certain amount of uranium.

Most of the uranium is found in granites, so areas located above such soils are classified as radon-hazardous areas.

Due to its inertness, this gas is quite easily released from the crystal lattices of minerals and propagates through cracks over fairly long distances. Damage to the soil with an increase in the number of cracks, for example during construction, increases the release of radon into the atmosphere.

Radon is highly soluble in water, which means that if a layer of underground interstratal water contacts rocks containing radon, then artesian wells will produce water rich in this gas.

Why is radon dangerous?

As you may have guessed, the danger of radon lies in its radioactivity. Once in the atmosphere, radon is inhaled along with the air and already in the bronchi begins to irradiate the mucous membrane. The decay products of radon are also radioactive. Getting into the blood, they are carried throughout the body, continuing to irradiate it.

It is currently believed that radon with its decay products causes about eighty percent of the annual dose of radiation exposure to the planet's population from.

Ionizing radiation in relatively small doses that do not lead to radiation sickness is dangerous due to its long-term probabilistic effects, or they are also called stochastic effects.

The likelihood and duration of such effects is difficult to predict, but the risk of their occurrence in people who have been exposed to radiation is much higher than in people who have not encountered radiation. The scale of the consequences is also difficult to assess, since the severity of stochastic effects does not depend on the dose of radiation.

The most dangerous stochastic effects of exposure to ionizing radiation are oncological diseases. Exposed people develop cancer more often, and exposure to radon is no exception.

More than a tenth of the cases of lung cancer registered every year are caused by radon radiation - this is the second largest after smoking. By the way, in conjunction with smoking, the oncogenic effect of radon increases.

There is statistical evidence that radon exposure increases the risk of cancer Bladder, skin, stomach, rectum. In addition, there is information about the harmful effects of radon on the bone marrow, thyroid gland, liver, cardiovascular system and reproductive organs.

Where is radon dangerous?

Speaking on a national scale, the areas of increased risk are regions where granite, grace, phosphorite, etc. lie close to the surface of the earth. Relatively high doses are received by the population of territories where industrial enterprises for the extraction and processing of mineral raw materials are located, as well as metallurgical enterprises and thermal power plants.

As already mentioned, radon enters the atmosphere from the soil, and if a building is built on such a site, then nothing prevents radon from accumulating indoors. With absent or poorly functioning ventilation, the concentration of radon in indoor air can be ten times higher than the concentration in outdoor air.

Radon is more than seven times heavier than air, so it accumulates most of all in basements and ground floors.

The second possible way for radon to enter housing is building materials. If raw materials containing radon were used in their production, then it will inevitably enter the premises, and then the number of storeys does not matter.

In the case when water is supplied to the building from underground sources and without additional water treatment, radon can enter the housing with water. Then the highest concentration of radon will be in the premises where water is distributed, for example, in Finland, where there is a lot of radon in the soil, in the bathrooms of houses the concentration of radon was found to be 50 times higher than the norm. By the way, only about 5 million people live in this country, Finland ranks first in the world in terms of the incidence of lung cancer, and the death rate from this tumor is 200-600 people a year.

Quite often, radon can be found in apartments equipped with gas stoves. In this case, radon comes along with natural gas and creates large concentrations in kitchens.

What is the standard for radon content?

In our country, the standardization of radon content in indoor air is carried out in terms of the average annual equivalent equilibrium volumetric activity (EEVA) of radon isotopes, which is measured in Bq/m³.

In residential and public buildings that are leased after construction, overhaul or reconstruction of radon EEVA should not exceed 100 Bq/m³, and in operated buildings - 200 Bq/m³.

• SanPiN 2.6.1.2523-09 "Radiation safety standards (NRB-99/2009)", p.5.3.2, p.5.3.3;
• SP 2.6.1.2612-10 "Basic sanitary rules for ensuring radiation safety (OSPORB - 99/2010)", p.5.1.3.
• SanPiN 2.6.1.2800-10 "Radiation safety requirements for public exposure natural springs ionizing radiation”, p.4.2.6, p.4.2.7.

What to do if radon is above normal?

If the standards for radon in residential and public buildings are above the norm, then additional measures for anti-radon protection should be carried out.

There are passive and active protection systems.

Passive protection provides for the isolation of building envelopes to prevent the diffusion of radon from the basement into living quarters (seals, membranes, barriers, impregnations, coatings). Such activities do not require energy and maintenance, which is their advantage.

Active protection is based on the forced removal of radon from the source into the atmosphere (forced ventilation of the basement, basement collector, basement soil). Special installations, energy sources and maintenance personnel are required here, but active measures are noticeably more effective than passive ones.

If, for some reason, including economic reasons, the side events is impossible, then the issue of resettlement of residents, conversion of buildings and premises, or demolition of an existing building should be considered (clause 5.1.4 OSPORB - 99/2010, clause 4.2.6, clause 4.2.7 SanPiN 2.6.1.2800-10) .

About the benefits of radon

Since we are talking about radon, we cannot omit the issue of the healing properties of radon baths. The use of this method of treatment is based on the opinion of scientists that small doses of radiation, acting as a mild stress factor, stimulate cellular defense and the body's immunity as a whole.

Treatment with radon baths is used for arthrosis, arthritis, hypertension, etc.

It should be noted that the concentration of radon in such baths is scanty, and the course of treatment, as a rule, is short.

Did you see an error? Select and press Ctrl+Enter.

Discussion: 13 comments

It seems that radon baths are useful only for absolutely healthy people. It is unlikely that irradiation, although in small doses, is useful, no one knows how this dose of radon will affect the body in the future ... And so we have radiation from home electronics around us .. Maybe they were useful in ancient times, when there were not so many factors of everyday exposure as now.

Answer

The child went to kindergarten. Later they learned that as a result of the earthquake, a crack appeared, and radon enters the group, they made an extract and the commission checks every six months.
Then we find out that the hood has not worked since September, my child has had a strong cough since December. They diagnose bronchial hyperactivity
Could radon have accumulated since September and harm children?
Does a hood really fix the problem?
In August, before accepting children, measurements showed the norm

Answer

Zheks are killing us with radon. All air vents are bricked up. Incompetent management!

Answer

1. hello, for several years I had contact with Adrianov’s compasses that were in my storage (more than 800 pieces) and all of them, as I later found out, were fonils and, since they were in the same rack in wooden boxes at a distance of 2-3 meters, the geiger counter showed BIG dose. periodically they had to be taken out, counted, etc. Question: could I get a dose and how should it manifest itself?

   Answer

   1. Nothing can be said for sure without measuring the levels of ionizing radiation, but I found information on the net that the radium that is part of Adrianov's compasses (up to 0.03%) creates a total equivalent dose of 0.95 μSv / h, as far as I understand it was measured directly at the surface of the compass. That is, if you wear a compass on your hand or in your pocket every day without taking it off even at night, then the dose per year will be about 7.8 - 8.6 mSv / year (the norm of the effective dose according to NRB-99/2009 for the population is 1 mSv per year for any consecutive 5 years, but not more than 5 mSv per year). That's a lot, but it's unlikely you've been wearing compasses on your body around the clock. If you know the dose from the compasses at the point where you were during work (2-3 meters is a long enough distance for the dose to be small), then you can calculate the probable effective dose for the year yourself, taking into account the real time spent. With regard to the manifestations of overexposure, there are two types of biological effects from exposure high levels radiation:

      1. deterministic effects - they appear necessarily and depend on the dose, the higher the dose, the worse the state of health (according to the severity of radiation sickness)
      2. stochastic effects are probabilistic and unpredictable, they are assessed by the degree of risk increase, that is, the higher the dose, the greater the risk of developing such effects, but no one can say when they develop, and whether they develop at all.