Ecology

Research on Environmental Research Published by Scientists at Babes-Bolyai University

  2012 AUG 3 (VerticalNews) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Chemicals & Chemistry -- Current study results on Environmental Research have been published. According to news reporting out of Cluj Napoca, Romania, by VerticalNews editors, researchers stated "A comprehensive radon survey has been carried out in Baita radon-prone area, Transylvania, Romania, in 4 localities (Baita, Nucet, Finate, and Cimpani) situated in the vicinity of former Romanian uranium mines. Indoor radon concentrations have been measured in 1128 ground floor rooms and cellars of 303 family houses by using CR-39 diffusion type radon detectors."

  Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from Babes-Bolyai University, "The annual average of indoor radon concentration for Baita area was found to be 241±178Bqm(-3), which is about two times higher than the average value of 126Bqm(-3), computed for Romania. About 28% of investigated houses exceed the reference level of radon gas in dwellings of 300Bqm(-3). The indoor radon measurements on each house have been carried out in several rooms simultaneously with the aim of obtaining a more detailed picture on the exposure to radon in the studied area. An analysis on the variability of radon levels among floors (floor-to-floor variation) and rooms (room-to-room variation) and also the influence of factors like the presence of cellar or the age of the building is presented. The coefficient of variation (CV) within ground floor rooms of the same house (room-to-room variation) ranged between 0.9 and 120.8%, with an arithmetic mean of 46.2%, a large variability among rooms within surveyed dwellings being clearly identified. The mean radon concentration in bedrooms without cellar was higher than in bedrooms above the cellar, the difference being statistically significant (t test, one tail, p<0.001, n=82)."

  According to the news editors, the researchers concluded: "For houses built during 1960-1970 an increasing trend for radon levels was observed, but overall there was no significant difference in indoor radon concentrations by age of dwelling (one-way ANOVA test, p>0."

  For more information on this research see: Thorough investigations on indoor radon in Baita radon-prone area (Romania). The Science of the Total Environment, 2012;431():78-83.

  Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting A. Cucos Dinu, Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Babes-Bolyai University, Fantanele No 30, 400294, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

  Keywords for this news article include: Radon, Europe, Romania, Cluj Napoca, Radioactive Elements, Environmental Research.

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