Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Radon in Norwegian Dwellings

1992; Oxford University Press; Volume: 45; Issue: 1-4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1093/rpd/45.1-4.503

1742-3406

Terje Strand, B.M.R. Green, P.R. Lomas,

Risk Perception and Management

The results of a large-scale survey of radon concentrations in Norwegian dwellings are reported. Measurements of radon have been made in a total of 7500 dwellings. The dwellings were randomly selected and the number in each municipality is proportional to its population. The measurements were performed using etched track detectors from the National Radiological Protection Board in the UK. One detector was placed in the main bedroom in each dwelling for 6 months. The annual average of radon concentration in Norwegian bedrooms is calculated to be 51 Bq.m-3. The frequency distribution is approximately log-normal with a geometric mean of 26 Bq.m-3 and about 4% of the bedrooms have concentrations above 200 Bq.m-3. The radon concentrations are found to be about 40% higher for bedrooms in single-family houses than in blocks of flats and other multi-family houses. In a large proportion of single-family houses the living room and the kitchen are located on the ground floor and the bedrooms on the first floor. An additional factor is that the winters of 1987–1988 and 1988–1989 were much warmer than normal. Taking these factors into account, the average radon concentration in Norwegian dwellings is estimated to be between 55 and 65 Bq.m-3.