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Indoor radon concentrations in residential houses, processing factories, and mines in Neyriz, Iran

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to determine radon concentrations in mines, stone processing factories, residential houses, and public areas, as well as calculating its effective dose in Neyriz, Iran.

Method

A total of 74 alpha Track detectors (CR-39 detector) were installed at the desired locations based on the US-EPA’s protocol. After 3 months the detectors were collected and delivered to a Radon Reference Laboratory for analyzing.

Results

Mean ± SD, minimum and maximum radon concentrations in the sampling buildings were 29.93 ± 12.63, 10.33, and 66.76 Bq/m3, respectively. The effective annual dose was calculated to be 0.75 mSv/year, which was lower than the recommended value. Significant positive correlations were found between radon concentrations and some studied variables including smoking cigarettes, number of cigarettes smoked, duration of smoking, building’s age, number of floors, having cracks, use of colors in the building, use of ceramic for flooring, use of stone for flooring, and gas consumption. The number of cigarettes smoked by the residents was the most important predictor of radon concentrations. Radon concentrations were lower than standard values in all sampling locations.

Conclusion

It is necessary to conduct further studies in the field of regional geology and determine the sources that release radon in these areas to prevent further increases in radon concentration due to the proximity and plurality of mines and factories.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Research Vice-chancellor of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences for financially supporting the research (proposal No. 13448). They would also like to appreciate Ms. A. Keivanshekouh at the Research Improvement Center of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences for improving the use of English in the manuscript.

Funding

This study was funded by the Research Vice-chancellor of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

    Samaneh Shahsavani & Narges Shamsedini

  2. Fars water and Wastewater Company, Shiraz, Iran

    Narges Shamsedini

  3. Department of Epidemiology, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

    Hamid Reza Tabatabaei

  4. Research Center for Health Sciences, Institute of Health, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

    Mohammad Hoseini

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  1. Samaneh Shahsavani
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  2. Narges Shamsedini
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Correspondence to Mohammad Hoseini.

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Shahsavani, S., Shamsedini, N., Tabatabaei, H.R. et al. Indoor radon concentrations in residential houses, processing factories, and mines in Neyriz, Iran. J Environ Health Sci Engineer 17, 979–987 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40201-019-00413-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40201-019-00413-7

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