Indoor Particle Alpha Radioactivity Origins in Occupied Homes
Abstract Exposure to radioactivity inside homes potentially poses severe health risks which can be exacerbated by the interaction between radioactive particles and fine indoor particles; in particular, the presence of α particles are a key risk factor. Hence, in this study, particle radioactivity wa...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2020-04-01
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| Series: | Aerosol and Air Quality Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2020.01.0037 |
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| _version_ | 1825197534136500224 |
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| author | Choong-Min Kang Man Liu Eric Garshick Petros Koutrakis |
| author_facet | Choong-Min Kang Man Liu Eric Garshick Petros Koutrakis |
| author_sort | Choong-Min Kang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Exposure to radioactivity inside homes potentially poses severe health risks which can be exacerbated by the interaction between radioactive particles and fine indoor particles; in particular, the presence of α particles are a key risk factor. Hence, in this study, particle radioactivity was concurrently measured in the family rooms and basements of 26 homes to assess its concentrations and identify its sources, both indoors and outdoors, across two seasons. The levels of radon, air ions, and particle radioactivity, which included short- and long-lived α-activity (SLA and LLA, respectively), varied greatly but were substantially higher in the basements. Also, particle radioactivity—as well as PM2 5 and sulfur concentrations—were lower during the heating season. SLA was associated with radon, which was consistently of indoor origin, whereas LLA was more strongly related to the sulfur measured in indoor PM2 5, which is a proxy of outdoor infiltration. A regression model adjusted for sulfur and SLA also indicated a predominance of outdoor sources, likely due to the short residence time of indoor particles. Our results suggest that radiation in homes originates from both the decay of indoor radon and the infiltration of outdoor radioactivity. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bf1e4a1e4e1444b1becc2882c4ef7249 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1680-8584 2071-1409 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2020-04-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Aerosol and Air Quality Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-bf1e4a1e4e1444b1becc2882c4ef72492025-02-09T12:18:48ZengSpringerAerosol and Air Quality Research1680-85842071-14092020-04-012061374138310.4209/aaqr.2020.01.0037Indoor Particle Alpha Radioactivity Origins in Occupied HomesChoong-Min Kang0Man Liu1Eric Garshick2Petros Koutrakis3Exposure, Epidemiology, and Risk Program, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthExposure, Epidemiology, and Risk Program, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthPulmonary, Allergy, Sleep, and Critical Care Medicine Section, Medical Service, VA Boston Healthcare System, Harvard Medical SchoolPulmonary, Allergy, Sleep, and Critical Care Medicine Section, Medical Service, VA Boston Healthcare System, Harvard Medical SchoolAbstract Exposure to radioactivity inside homes potentially poses severe health risks which can be exacerbated by the interaction between radioactive particles and fine indoor particles; in particular, the presence of α particles are a key risk factor. Hence, in this study, particle radioactivity was concurrently measured in the family rooms and basements of 26 homes to assess its concentrations and identify its sources, both indoors and outdoors, across two seasons. The levels of radon, air ions, and particle radioactivity, which included short- and long-lived α-activity (SLA and LLA, respectively), varied greatly but were substantially higher in the basements. Also, particle radioactivity—as well as PM2 5 and sulfur concentrations—were lower during the heating season. SLA was associated with radon, which was consistently of indoor origin, whereas LLA was more strongly related to the sulfur measured in indoor PM2 5, which is a proxy of outdoor infiltration. A regression model adjusted for sulfur and SLA also indicated a predominance of outdoor sources, likely due to the short residence time of indoor particles. Our results suggest that radiation in homes originates from both the decay of indoor radon and the infiltration of outdoor radioactivity.https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2020.01.0037Radioactivity originRadonParticle radioactivityShort-lived α-activityLong-lived α-activity |
| spellingShingle | Choong-Min Kang Man Liu Eric Garshick Petros Koutrakis Indoor Particle Alpha Radioactivity Origins in Occupied Homes Aerosol and Air Quality Research Radioactivity origin Radon Particle radioactivity Short-lived α-activity Long-lived α-activity |
| title | Indoor Particle Alpha Radioactivity Origins in Occupied Homes |
| title_full | Indoor Particle Alpha Radioactivity Origins in Occupied Homes |
| title_fullStr | Indoor Particle Alpha Radioactivity Origins in Occupied Homes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Indoor Particle Alpha Radioactivity Origins in Occupied Homes |
| title_short | Indoor Particle Alpha Radioactivity Origins in Occupied Homes |
| title_sort | indoor particle alpha radioactivity origins in occupied homes |
| topic | Radioactivity origin Radon Particle radioactivity Short-lived α-activity Long-lived α-activity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2020.01.0037 |
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