Assessment of Radon Concentration within Construction Materials Used in Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 5, September 2017
Pages:
41-46
Received:
8 August 2017
Accepted:
15 September 2017
Published:
10 October 2017
Abstract: The inhalation of radon decay products is the second most leading reasons for lung cancer after smoking. Building materials are an important source of indoor radon. This article describes the determination of the exhalation rate of radon from construction materials by the use of commercially available digital radon measuring device. Six types of construction materials were collected from the study area; these are cement, metal, sand, rock, clay brisk and gypsum. The measurements of effective radium content and radon concentration in those materials were investigated. The concentration was measured by alpha spectroscopy detection technique with Corentium digital radon detector. It was found that the overall average radon concentration in the construction materials varied from 58.46 Bq/m3 to 307.84 Bq/m3, which is above the recommended action level. The average effective radium content varies from 69.85 Bq/kg to 367.79 Bq/kg which is below the maximum permissible value of 370 Bq/kg as recommended by Organization for Economic Corporation and Development (OECD) but it is near to maximum, so it can pose significant threat to the population. The average annual effective inhalation dose varied from 0.53 mSv/yto 2.77 mSv/y. The mean excess lung cancer risk estimated by this work was found to range from 1.17% to 6.16% within average value of 2.92%. The average of Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR) is greater than with the estimated risk of 1.3% due to a radon exposure of 148 Bqm–3 which is the action level of Environmental protection agency (EPA). The mass exhalation rates of radon vary from 14.98 × 10−6 to 97.91 × 10−6 Bq.kg−1.d−1 with a mean value of 57.91×10−6 Bq.kg−1.d−1. The surface exhalation rates of radon have been found to vary from 23.85 × 10−5 to 155.91 ×10−5 Bq.kg−1.d−1 with a mean value of 91.46 ×10−5 Bq.kg−1.d−1. This indicates the contributions of construction materials in the indoor radon are very high.
Abstract: The inhalation of radon decay products is the second most leading reasons for lung cancer after smoking. Building materials are an important source of indoor radon. This article describes the determination of the exhalation rate of radon from construction materials by the use of commercially available digital radon measuring device. Six types of co...
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Morphological and Phenotypic Effects of Fast Neutron Irradiation (FNI) on Lagos Spinach (Celosia argentea L.)
Abubakar Abdulhakeem,
Falusi Ahmed Olamide,
Daudu Oladipupo Abdulazeez Yusuf
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 5, September 2017
Pages:
47-53
Received:
15 August 2017
Accepted:
9 September 2017
Published:
10 October 2017
Abstract: Fast neutrons irradiation is a valuable tool for developing varieties with high agricultural potentials and economic values. Therefore, the research was carried to evaluate effects of fast neutron irradiation on the morphology and phenotype of Lagos spinach, with the aim of inducing useful agronomical traits for selection of desirable genotypes that could be used for large scale production. The Celosia argentia (Red accession) that were used for the experiment were obtained from local far
Abstract: Fast neutrons irradiation is a valuable tool for developing varieties with high agricultural potentials and economic values. Therefore, the research was carried to evaluate effects of fast neutron irradiation on the morphology and phenotype of Lagos spinach, with the aim of inducing useful agronomical traits for selection of desirable genotypes tha...
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