Radon release from building materials in Hong Kong
- Univ. of Hong Kong (Hong Kong)
Indoor {sup 222}Rn in high-rise buildings originates inside the building materials, then diffuses gradually through the intergranular spaces of the material into the room atmosphere. Therefore, the radionuclide contents and the physical properties of the building materials are important for indoor {sup 222}Rn levels in Hong Kong. In this paper, the radionuclide contents of typical building materials used locally were determined by {gamma} spectrometry, and the results indicate that the average {sup 226}Ra, {sup 232}Th, and {sup 40}K contents in Hong Kong concrete are the highest known in the world. Physical properties, such as the emanation coefficients and {sup 222}Rn diffusion coefficients, were measured in these materials and they are not much different from those in other countries. The effect of surface coatings on {sup 222}Rn exhalation rate was studied and the observed reduction was from 2-68%. The {sup 222}Rn exhalation rate was found to increase steadily with temperature up to 50{degrees}C; at 50{degrees}C, the {sup 222}Rn exhalation rate can be as high as four times the rate at 20{degrees}C. 15 refs., 3 figs., 6 tabs.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 54458
- Journal Information:
- Health Physics, Journal Name: Health Physics Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 67; ISSN HLTPAO; ISSN 0017-9078
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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