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Title: | National mapping survey of indoor radon levels in the Maltese Islands (2010-2011) |
Authors: | Baluci, Christine Vincenti, Karen Tilluck, Bhikha Conchin, Stephen Formosa, Saviour Grech, Dorianne |
Keywords: | Radon -- Malta Radon -- Environmental aspects Atmospheric radon -- Malta |
Issue Date: | 2013 |
Publisher: | Malta Medical Journal |
Citation: | Baluci, C., Vincenti, K., Tilluck, B., Conchin, S., Formosa, S., & Grech, D. (2013). National mapping survey of indoor radon levels in the Maltese Islands (2010-2011). Malta Medical Journal, 25(4), 33-40. |
Abstract: | Aim: To conduct a national geographically based survey to determine the distribution of the mean annual indoor radon gas concentration levels in dwellings in the Maltese Islands and map these levels; to identify any areas with annual mean indoor radon gas concentrations higher than the current proposed WHO reference level of 100 Bq/m3; to determine an advisory national reference level for radon concentration in buildings. Method: Radon measurements were carried out in 85 buildings distributed over the Maltese Islands between November 2010 and November 2011 using alpha-track radon detectors. Retrieved detectors were analysed by a Health Protection Agency-accredited laboratory in the UK. The overall annual arithmetic and geometric mean indoor radon gas concentrations for the Maltese Islands were calculated. Results: The mean annual indoor radon concentration for the Maltese Islands was 32 Bq/m3, with a geometric mean of 25 Bq/m3 (standard deviation (SD) 25). The maximum level measured was 92 Bq/m3 and the minimum 11 Bq/m3. A radon map of the Maltese Islands was produced using the geographic mean annual indoor radon gas concentration level for each building. Conclusion: The mean annual indoor radon concentration in Malta was found to be well below the lowest proposed WHO reference levels with no dwellings having a mean annual indoor radon gas concentration above 100 Bq/m3. This national mapping survey for mean annual indoor radon gas concentration in the Maltese Islands indicates that the current proposed reference level of 100 Bq/m3 by the WHO may be adopted as the national reference level for the Maltese Islands. |
URI: | https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar//handle/123456789/1498 |
Appears in Collections: | MMJ, Volume 25, Issue 4 MMJ, Volume 25, Issue 4 Scholarly Works - FacSoWCri |
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File | Description | Size | Format | |
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2013.Vol25.Issue4.A5.pdf | National mapping survey of indoor radon levels in the Maltese Islands (2010-2011) | 441.1 kB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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