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Indoor radon ({sup 222}Rn) levels in coastal and rift valley regions of Kenya

Abstract

Measurements of indoor radon levels by electret technique in Coastal and Rift Valley Region of Kenya are reported. The results indicate a large variation in the concentrations (5 - 704 Bq m{sup -3}) and that remedial action is necessary in some dwellings. The geological formations and the manner in which the houses have been constructed have a bearing on these radon levels. Most of the houses were made of mud bricks. The radon levels (43-704Bq{sup -3}) were found higher in Taita and Taveta regions. This is because the house construction procedures in these regions minimize the natural ventilation. This is in contrast with Soi region where temperatures range 24 to 32 deg C throughout the year and the houses had more natural ventilation with radon concentration levels being less than 100Bqm{sup -3}. This was a factor of three lower compared to the levels of {sup 222}Rn (mean = 199 Bq{sup -3}) in the stone houses at Soi because they were more air tight than the mud houses. The annual effective dose varied from 0.4 to 3.6 mSv y{sup -1}. (author)
Authors:
Maina, D M; Kinyua, A M; Nderitu, S K; Agola, J O; Mangala, M J [1] 
  1. Institute of Nuclear Science, University of Nairobi, Nairobi (Kenya)
Publication Date:
Jul 01, 2003
Product Type:
Conference
Report Number:
STI/PUB-1145/CD; IAEA-CN-91/56
Resource Relation:
Conference: International conference on occupational radiation protection: Protecting workers against exposure to ionizing radiation, Geneva (Switzerland), 26-30 Aug 2002; Other Information: 10 refs, 1 tab; Data in PDF format; PBD: Jul 2003; Related Information: In: Occupational radiation protection: Protecting workers against exposure to ionizing radiation. Contributed papers, 670 pages.
Subject:
61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY; INDOOR AIR CONTAMINATION; PERSONNEL DOSIMETRY; PERSONNEL MONITORING; RADIATION PROTECTION; RADIOACTIVITY; RADIOLOGICAL PERSONNEL; RADON 222
OSTI ID:
20453941
Research Organizations:
International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna (Austria); International Labour Organization, Geneva (Switzerland); European Commission, Luxembourg (Luxembourg); OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, Paris (France); World Health Organization, Geneva (Switzerland)
Country of Origin:
IAEA
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Other: ISBN 92-0-105603-6; ISSN 0074-1884; TRN: XA0302964032857
Availability:
Available from INIS in electronic form; Available on 1 CD-ROM from IAEA, Sales and Promotion Unit: E-mail: sales.publications@iaea.org; Web site: http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/publications.asp/
Submitting Site:
INIS
Size:
page(s) 401-405
Announcement Date:
Apr 26, 2004

Citation Formats

Maina, D M, Kinyua, A M, Nderitu, S K, Agola, J O, and Mangala, M J. Indoor radon ({sup 222}Rn) levels in coastal and rift valley regions of Kenya. IAEA: N. p., 2003. Web.
Maina, D M, Kinyua, A M, Nderitu, S K, Agola, J O, & Mangala, M J. Indoor radon ({sup 222}Rn) levels in coastal and rift valley regions of Kenya. IAEA.
Maina, D M, Kinyua, A M, Nderitu, S K, Agola, J O, and Mangala, M J. 2003. "Indoor radon ({sup 222}Rn) levels in coastal and rift valley regions of Kenya." IAEA.
@misc{etde_20453941,
title = {Indoor radon ({sup 222}Rn) levels in coastal and rift valley regions of Kenya}
author = {Maina, D M, Kinyua, A M, Nderitu, S K, Agola, J O, and Mangala, M J}
abstractNote = {Measurements of indoor radon levels by electret technique in Coastal and Rift Valley Region of Kenya are reported. The results indicate a large variation in the concentrations (5 - 704 Bq m{sup -3}) and that remedial action is necessary in some dwellings. The geological formations and the manner in which the houses have been constructed have a bearing on these radon levels. Most of the houses were made of mud bricks. The radon levels (43-704Bq{sup -3}) were found higher in Taita and Taveta regions. This is because the house construction procedures in these regions minimize the natural ventilation. This is in contrast with Soi region where temperatures range 24 to 32 deg C throughout the year and the houses had more natural ventilation with radon concentration levels being less than 100Bqm{sup -3}. This was a factor of three lower compared to the levels of {sup 222}Rn (mean = 199 Bq{sup -3}) in the stone houses at Soi because they were more air tight than the mud houses. The annual effective dose varied from 0.4 to 3.6 mSv y{sup -1}. (author)}
place = {IAEA}
year = {2003}
month = {Jul}
}