Zdenka Stojanovska

Indoor Exposure of Population to Radon in the FYR of Macedonia

The authors present the results of a year-long survey of the indoor radon concentration levels in the FYR of Macedonia. A total number of 437 dwellings in eight statistical regions were subject to radon concentration measurements by using CR-39 track detectors. The annual mean indoor radon concentration in each measuring site was estimated from the four individual measurements with 3 months duration. The measuring period was from December 2008 to December 2009. The distribution of the results was nearly log-normal. The arithmetic and geometric mean values of the annual mean value of radon concentration were estimated to be 105 ± 84 and 84*/1.9 Bq m(-3), respectively. The annual effective dose due to indoor exposure to radon in the dwellings was estimated to be 2.1*/1.9 mSv y(-1).

Results from time integrated measurements of indoor radon, thoron and their decay product concentrations in schools in the Republic of Macedonia

As part of a survey on concentrations of radon, thoron and their decay products in different indoor environments of the Balkan region involving international collaboration, measurements were performed in 43 schools from 5 municipalities of the Republic of Macedonia. The time-integrated radon and thoron gas concentrations (CRn and CTn) were measured by CR-39 (placed in chambers with different diffusion barriers), whereas the equilibrium equivalent radon and thoron concentrations (EERC and EETC) were measured using direct radon-thoron progeny sensors consisting of LR-115 nuclear track detectors. The detectors were deployed at a distance of at least 0.5 m from the walls as well as far away from the windows and doors in order to obtain more representative samples of air from the breathing zone; detectors were exposed over a 3-month period (March-May 2012). The geometric mean (GM) values [and geometric standard deviations (GSDs)] of CRn, CTn, EERC and EETC were 76 (1.7), 12 (2.3), 27 (1.4) and 0.75 Bq m(-3) (2.5), respectively. The equilibrium factors between radon and its decay products (FRn) and thoron and its decay products (FTn (>0.5 m)) were evaluated: FRn ranged between 0.10 and 0.84 and FTn (>0.5 m) ranged between 0.003 and 0.998 with GMs (and GSDs) equal to 0.36 (1.7) and 0.07 (3.4), respectively.

Pilot survey of indoor radon in the dwellings of Bulgaria

The first systematic indoor radon survey in four districts of Bulgaria was performed. Three hundred and seventy-three selected ground floor dwellings were measured using the nuclear track detectors during 6 months, from October 2011 to May 2012. It was found that indoor radon concentration varied between 20 and 3560 Bq m(-3) with median value of 90 Bq m(-3). The fractions of dwellings in four districts: Sofia city, Sofia districts, Plovdiv and Varna above the reference levels of 300 Bq m(-3) were 3, 9, 14 and 5 %, respectively. Each data set does not follow a log-normal distribution at a significance level of 95 %. The results of the analysis of the variance showed statistically significant differences among the indoor radon concentrations for the regions between urban and rural municipalities as well for the building with and without basement. These results may be utilised to set up the methodology for a more systematic survey in Bulgaria.

Long-term measurements of radon, thoron and their airborne progeny in 25 schools in Republic of Srpska.

This article reports results of the first investigations on indoor radon, thoron and their decay products concentration in 25 primary schools of Banja Luka, capital city of Republic Srpska. The measurements have been carried out in the period from May 2011 to April 2012 using 3 types of commercially available nuclear track detectors, named: long-term radon monitor (GAMMA 1)- for radon concentration measurements (C(Rn)); radon-thoron discriminative monitor (RADUET) for thoron concentration measurements (C(Tn)); while equilibrium equivalent radon concentration (EERC) and equilibrium equivalent thoron concentrations (EETC) measured by Direct Radon Progeny Sensors/Direct Thoron Progeny Sensors (DRPS/DTPS) were exposed in the period November 2011 to April 2012. In each school the detectors were deployed at 10 cm distance from the wall. The obtained geometric mean concentrations were C(Rn) = 99 Bq m(-3) and C(Tn) = 51 Bq m(-3) for radon and thoron gases respectively. Those for equilibrium equivalent radon concentration (EERC) and equilibrium equivalent thoron concentrations (EETC) were 11.2 Bq m(-3) and 0.4 Bq m(-3), respectively. The correlation analyses showed weak relation only between C(Rn) and C(Tn) as well as between C(Tn) and EETC. The influence of the school geographical locations and factors linked to buildings characteristic in relation to measured concentrations were tested. The geographical location and floor level significantly influence C(Rn) while C(Tn) depend only from building materials (ANOVA, p ≤ 0.05). The obtained geometric mean values of the equilibrium factors were 0.123 for radon and 0.008 for thoron.

Measurement of indoor radon concentration in kindergartens in Sofia, Bulgaria

As a part of the systematic survey of indoor radon in Bulgaria, the indoor radon concentration was measured in 296 kindergarten buildings of Sofia city during 3 months (February to April 2013) using the CR-39 nuclear tract detectors. In 256 buildings at least two frequently occupied rooms (mainly playrooms) were observed. Altogether, 922 measurements were performed. The frequency distribution was well described by the lognormal function. The measured radon concentrations range between 9 and 1415 Bq m(-3) with a geometric mean of 101 Bq m(-3) (2.08) and an arithmetic mean 132 Bq m(-3) with a standard deviation of 118 Bq m(-3). The radon concentrations obtained in this survey were compared with that in Sofia city dwellings obtained from a previous study. A detailed statistical analysis of the building factors was presented.

Radiological impact of surface water and sediment near uranium mining sites.

The aim of this study is to assess the radiological impact of surface water and sediment around uranium mining sites 20 years after their closing. The areas under observations are 31 former classical underground uranium mining and exploratory sites in Bulgaria, named as objects. The extraction and processing of uranium ores in the Republic of Bulgaria were ended in 1992. To assess the radiological impact of radionuclides field expeditions were performed to sample water and bottom sediment. The migration of uranium through surface water was examined as one of the major pathways for contamination spread. The range of uranium concentration in water flowing from the mining sites was from 0.012 to 6.8 mgU l(-1) with a geometric mean of 0.192 mgU l(-1). The uranium concentrations in water downstream the mining sites were approximately 3 times higher than the background value (upstream). The concentrations of Unat, (226)Ra, (210)Pb, and (232)Th in the sediment of downstream river were higher than those upstream by 3.4, 2.6, 2, and 1.7 times, respectively. The distribution coefficient of uranium reflects its high mobility in most of the sites. In order to evaluate the impact on people as well as site prioritization for more detailed assessment and water management, screening dose assessments were done.

BRONCHUS AND LUNG CANCER INCIDENCE IN POPULATION LIVING AROUND THE FORMER URANIUM MAINING AND MILING SITES

The indoor radon concentrations and lung cancer incidence in Eleshnitza village and Blagoevgrad district of Bulgaria were examined in the study reported here. The Eleshnitza was the second largest uranium mining and milling region of the country. The geometric mean of indoor radon concentration in Eleshnitza (465 Bq/m3) was higher than the geometric mean of Blagoevgrad district (78 Bq/m3). Retrospective analyses on lung cancer incidence, covering the period 1995-2012 have been shown the same trend. The results were suggestive of an existing relationship between the two variables. Possible effects attributable to age and gender on lung cancer incidence were examined and found to be significant.

INDOOR RADON, THORON AND THEIR PROGENY CONCENTRATIONS IN HIGH THORON RURAL SERBIA ENVIRONMENTS

This article deals with the variation of radon (Rn), thoron (Tn) and their progeny concentrations expressed in terms of equilibrium equivalent concentrations (EERC and EETC), in 40 houses, in four villages of Sokobanja municipality, Southern Serbia. Two types of passive detectors were used: (1) discriminative radon-thoron detector for simultaneous Rn and Tn gases measurements and (2) direct Tn and Rn progeny sensors (DRPS/DTPS) for measuring Rn and Tn progeny concentrations. Detectors were exposed simultaneously for a single period of 12 months. Variations of Tn and EETC appear higher than those of Rn and EERC. Analysis of the spatial variation of the measured concentrations is also reported. This work is part of a wider survey of Rn, Tn and their progeny concentrations in indoor environments throughout the Balkan region started in 2011 year.

Results of radon CR-39 detectors exposed in schools due two different long-term periods

Abstract The paper deals with the recent survey of indoor radon (Rn) results in schools, where paired CR-39 detectors were simultaneously exposed to different long-term periods, i.e., one detector was exposed during the whole year and the other one in the period of the school year duration. To be able to compare the results obtained, for its analysis, the relative bias and U tests were used. It was found that there are no systematic differences between the results, which points that the exposure of the detector during summer vacations did not affect the estimated average annual radon concentration. The paired results were modelled by a linear function, giving an extremely high coefficient of determination R2 = 0.99.