Mapping of indoor radon survey and dose estimations in health centres in Turkey

OpenAlex İngilizce

Radon and its short-lived daughter products, leading to lung cancer, are the most significant contribution to the exposure of man to ionizing radiation from natural sources. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess indoor radon measurements in 39 rooms of 15 health centres in Osmaniye city, Turkey using CR-39 solid-state nuclear track detectors based on radon dosimeters. Indoor radon concentrations were found to change from 8 to 108 Bq·m −3 . The associated radiological parameters such as the annual effective dose and excess lifetime cancer risk were computed for staff/patient in the rooms surveyed. The mean annual effective dose and excess lifetime cancer risk values were estimated to be 0.29 mSv and 1.02 × 10 −3 , respectively. The annual computed effective doses are lower than the suggested action level (3–10 mSv·y −1 ). Also, with ordinary Kriging method, by using R programing language and quantum geographic information system, indoor radon concentration, annual effective dose, and excess lifetime cancer risk interpolated values were recorded and mapped. The findings obtained in the current study concerning radon levels and their variations will provide baseline values for future research surveys.