Radon Gas Concentration Measurement and Assessment of Health Risk in Tehran, Iran

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Civil Engineering Department, Khajeh Nasir Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

2 College of Environment, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

3 Sahel Consulting Engineers

Abstract

In recent years, technology development and using various tools have led to produce environmental contaminations. Radon (Rn-222) is one of the dangerous and fatal indoor air pollution. According to Environment Protection Agency (EPA) and many other international organizations, Radon is major cause of lung cancer after smoking. In present research, Radon measurements have been done in 30 dwellings of Tehran using AEOI devices. According to research achievements, the average Radon concentration in Tehran is measured 104 Bq/m3. Maximum and minimum concentrations are 460.2 Bq/m3 in west and 31 Bq/m3 in north respectively. Risk assessment was done using EPA method. Results showed that independent of age, the lung cancer death rates and risk were 14 times or 12 times (for males and females respectively) greater for ever smokers than never smokers. In conclusion, females are more at risk than males. It was determined people who were older than 70 and also ever smokers are more at risk that must be followed up.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Amirkabir Journal of Civil Engineering
Volume 51, Issue 1
May and June 2019
Pages 109-118

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