Rathebe Phoka C, Mphaga Khathutshelo Vincent, Masekameni Daniel M
Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Doornfontein Campus, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Johannesburg, 2006, South Africa.
Developmental Studies, School of Social Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, 0003, South Africa.
Environ Monit Assess. 2025 Mar 21;197(4):446. doi: 10.1007/s10661-025-13889-8.
Climate change is increasingly recognized as a critical factor influencing various environmental and public health issues. This paper discusses the link between climate change parameters and elevated indoor radon levels, aiming to highlight the necessity for urgent public health intervention. By examining temperature fluctuations, precipitation patterns, extreme weather events, and geological changes, the paper elucidates how these factors contribute to the variability of indoor radon concentrations. A review of 31 indoor radon studies from different countries revealed substantial variation in indoor radon concentrations. The weighted mean indoor radon concentration was 178 Bq/m, with a standard deviation of 193 Bq/m. The minimum and maximum concentrations measured were 14.3 Bq/m and 1083 Bq/m, respectively. Drawing from the findings of other scholars, a significant correlation between climate change and increased radon levels in residential areas has been revealed, suggesting potential health risks for occupants. This paper underscores the urgent need for public health strategies and policies to mitigate radon exposure, enhance awareness, and protect vulnerable populations. There is an urgent need for comprehensive measures, including improved building practices, regular radon monitoring, and robust public health campaigns to address the emerging threat posed by climate-induced radon exposure.
气候变化日益被视为影响各种环境和公共卫生问题的关键因素。本文讨论了气候变化参数与室内氡水平升高之间的联系,旨在强调紧急公共卫生干预的必要性。通过研究温度波动、降水模式、极端天气事件和地质变化,本文阐明了这些因素如何导致室内氡浓度的变化。对来自不同国家的31项室内氡研究的综述显示,室内氡浓度存在很大差异。加权平均室内氡浓度为178贝克勒尔/立方米,标准差为193贝克勒尔/立方米。测量的最低和最高浓度分别为14.3贝克勒尔/立方米和1083贝克勒尔/立方米。借鉴其他学者的研究结果,已揭示出气候变化与居民区氡水平升高之间存在显著相关性,这表明居住者存在潜在的健康风险。本文强调迫切需要制定公共卫生战略和政策,以减少氡暴露、提高认识并保护弱势群体。迫切需要采取综合措施,包括改进建筑做法、定期进行氡监测以及开展有力的公共卫生运动,以应对气候引起的氡暴露所带来的新威胁。