School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa.
Centre for Nuclear Safety and Security, National Nuclear Regulator, Centurion 0046, South Africa.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Nov 2;20(21):7010. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20217010.
Radon in dwellings is recognized as the primary source of natural radiation exposure to members of the public. In the West Rand District and Soweto in the Gauteng Province (South Africa), indoor radon (Rn) mapping was carried out to assess the exposure levels of radon in dwellings around gold and uranium mining tailings dams. This study was conducted predominately during warm and cold seasons, using the solid-state nuclear track detectors. In summer months, the indoor radon levels measured in all areas ranged from below the lower limit of detection to 71 Bq/m, with a mean value of 29 Bq/m, whereas in winter, the levels ranged between 11 and 124 Bq/m, with a mean value of 46 Bq/m. Higher indoor radon levels are found in colder months (winter season) than warmer months (summer season). However, no dwellings with indoor radon levels that exceed the WHO (2009) recommended reference level of 100 Bq/m were found, except for one that was constructed directly on soil mixed with tailings material. It is recommended that residents should keep their indoor radon levels low through continuous ventilation so as to minimize the buildup of radon and the likelihood of increased health hazards associated with radon exposure.
住宅内的氡被认为是公众自然辐射照射的主要来源。在南非豪登省的西兰德地区和索韦托，进行了室内氡（Rn）测绘，以评估金矿和铀矿尾矿坝周围住宅内的氡暴露水平。这项研究主要在温暖和寒冷季节进行，使用固体核径迹探测器。在夏季，所有地区测量的室内氡水平均低于检测下限至 71 Bq/m，平均值为 29 Bq/m，而在冬季，水平范围在 11 到 124 Bq/m 之间，平均值为 46 Bq/m。在较冷的月份（冬季）发现室内氡水平高于较温暖的月份（夏季）。然而，除了一个直接建在混合尾矿材料的土壤上的住宅外，没有发现室内氡水平超过世卫组织（2009 年）建议的 100 Bq/m 的参考水平。建议居民应通过持续通风保持室内氡水平低，以尽量减少氡的积聚和与氡暴露相关的健康危害增加的可能性。
