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ABSTRACT
The aim of this preliminary study was to measure the indoor radon activity concentration in the houses and offices of Radiation Oncology and Nuclear Medicine staff at Dokuz Eylül University and to assess the results from a radiological perspective. LR-115 type II solid-state nuclear track detectors were installed in the homes and hospital and were exposed for 2 months. LR-115 type II detectors were etched for 90 min in 10% (2.5 M) NaOH solution at 60°C and radon activity concentration was determined from observed microscopic track densities. It was observed that measured indoor radon concentration ranged between 18 and 624 Bq/m3 with a geometric mean of 95 Bq/m3 in hospital, and between 22 and 560 Bq/m3 with a geometric mean of 129 Bq/m3 in homes. Estimates of the annual effective dose received by medical staff who participated in the study ranged between 0.76 and 8.79 mSv. On average, the hospital building contributed 41% to the annual effective dose. The reported values for radon concentrations and the corresponding estimated annual effective equivalent doses were within the limits recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection as well as the Turkish Atomic Energy Commission recommended limits for workplaces and houses.
Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to Prof. Dr. Günseli Yaprak for professional advice on several aspects of the radon measurements. The authors would like to thank Dr. Berna Ataksor from the ÇNAEM for her indispensable help during calibration of detectors. The authors are also grateful to the medical staff of the Radiation Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Departments of Dokuz Eylül University Hospital for their strong collaboration in the course of the measurement campaign.