Experience from indoor radon-daughter limitation schemes in Sweden

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Environment International; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0160-4120(89)90035-4· OSTI ID:6646247

Swedjemark, G A ^[1]; Wahren, H; Maekitalo, A ^[2]; Tell, W ^[3]

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1. National Institute of Radiation Protection, Stockholm (Sweden)
2. National Board of Health and Welfare, Stockholm (Sweden)
3. National Board of Physical Planning and Building, Stockholm (Sweden)

Sweden introduced limits and gave recommendations for decreasing the indoor radon daughter concentrations in 1980. The resulting experiences are summarized. From 1979 to 1987, measurements were carried out by the local authorities in about 58,000 out of 3.9 million homes in Sweden, and 5,300 homes were found to have levels exceeding the limit for existing houses, or 400 Bq/m{sup 3} of equilibrium equivalent concentration of radon (EER). This may be about 13% of the estimated 40,000 homes with levels exceeding 400 Bq/m{sup 3}. Very high levels, up to 28,000 Bq/m{sup 3}, have been found. According to the local authorities, in one third of the homes found with levels exceeding the limit (1921 homes) certain reconstruction and other measures have been taken in order to decrease the levels. In reality, measures have been carried out in more houses. The methods depend on the radon source. The average reductions found for respective methods are reported. The local authorities can require a check of the radon daughter concentrations in newly built houses when they suspect that the concentrations exceed the limit of 70 Bq/m{sup 3}. In 11% of the measured homes built during 1981 to 1985, the levels were above the limit for newly built houses. In 1.4% of these houses, the limit for existing houses, 400 Bq/m{sup 3}, had been exceeded. The strategy to decrease both the collective dose to the population and the individual dose is discussed.

• OSTI ID: 6646247
• Journal Information: Environment International; (USA), Journal Name: Environment International; (USA) Vol. 15:1-6; ISSN 0160-4120; ISSN ENVID
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540130* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AIR POLLUTION
BUILDINGS
DAUGHTER PRODUCTS
DOSES
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EUROPE
FLUIDS
GASES
HOUSES
HUMAN POPULATIONS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
ISOTOPES
MASS TRANSFER
MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE CONCENTRATION
MONITORING
NONMETALS
POLLUTION
POPULATIONS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
RADON
RARE GASES
RECOMMENDATIONS
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
SAFETY STANDARDS
SCANDINAVIA
STANDARDS
SWEDEN
WESTERN EUROPE