title: Nationwide survey of radon levels in Korea.
abstract: A nationwide radon survey was conducted to provide data on the annual average indoor radon concentration in Korean homes. This survey also provided data on the variation of radon concentration with season, house type, and building age. The arithmetic mean (AM) of annual radon concentration in Korean homes was 53.4 +/- 57.5 Bq m(-3). The indoor radon concentration showed a lognormal distribution with a geometric mean (GM) and its standard deviation (GSD) of 43.3 +/- 1.8 Bq m(-3). The radon concentrations in the traditional Korean-style houses were about two times higher than those in apartments and row houses. The average annual outdoor radon concentration was 23.3 Bq m(-3). The average annual effective dose to the general public from radon was 1.63 mSv y(-1).
authors.affiliation: Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety, P.O. Box 114, Yusong, Daejeon 305-338, Korea. k216kck@kins.re.kr
authors.forename: Chang-Kyu
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung-Chan
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dong-Myung
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Byung-Uck
authors.initials: BU
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Byung-Hwan
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Rho
authors.forename: Hee-Dong
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D001417:Background Radiation; D003252:Construction Materials; D003625:Data Collection; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006798:Housing / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007723:Korea; D008954:Models, Biological; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011874:Radiometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011886:Radon / Q000032:analysis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012621:Seasons; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D019371:Topography, Medical / Q000379:methods; D014691:Ventilation
chemical_list: D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive; D011886:Radon