The Influence of InternalWall and Floor Covering Materials and Ventilation Type on Indoor Radon and Thoron Levels in Hospitals of Kermanshah, Iran
نویسندگان
1 Environmental Health Engineering Department, School of Public Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, IR Iran
2 School of Public Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, IR Iran
3 Department of Occupational Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, IR Iran
4 Epidemiology Research Center (KEERC), Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, IR Iran
5 Medical Physics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, IR Iran
6 Research Center for Environmental Determinants of Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, IR Iran
doi
چکیده
Building materials and the ventilation rate of a building are two main factors influencing indoor radon and thoronlevels (two radioactive gases which have the most important role in human natural radiation exposure within dwellings).Objectives: This analytical descriptive study was intended to determine the relationship between indoor radon and thoron concentrationsand the building materials used in interior surfaces, as well as between those concentrations and the type of ventilationsystem (natural or artificial).Materials and Methods: 102 measurements of radon and thoron levels were taken from different parts of three hospital buildingsin the city of Kermanshah in the west of Iran, using an RTM-1688-2 radon meter. Information on the type of building material andventilation system in the measurement location was collected and then analyzed using Stata 8 software and multivariate linearregression.Results: In terms of radon and thoron emissions, travertine and plaster were found to be the most appropriate and inappropriatecovering for walls, respectively. Furthermore, granite and travertine were discovered to be inappropriate materials for flooring,while plastic floor covering was found suitable. Natural ventilation performed better for radon, while artificial ventilation workedbetter for thoron.Conclusions: Internal building materials and ventilation type affect indoor radon and thoron concentrations. Therefore, the useof proper materials and adequate ventilation can reduce the potential human exposure to radon and thoron. This is of utmostimportance, particularly in buildings with a high density of residents, including hospitals.
