Resumo

SALINAS-RAMIREZ, Hilse Ximena et al. Indoor radon (²²²Rn) in a public workplace of Aldama, Chihuahua, Mexico and level of worker exposure. Acta univ [online]. 2020, vol.30, e2458.  Epub 22-Out-2020. ISSN 2007-9621.  https://doi.org/10.15174/au.2020.2458.

The inhalation of radon gas (222Rn) induces lung cancer in humans. The objective of this research was to quantify the 222Rn levels in a public office. The study was carried out in two stages; in the first stage (FS), the 222Rn was determined at three high levels (0.74 m, 1.33 m and 2.06 m) away from the main door, while in the second stage (SS) it was determined at the center of the office. The concentration was obtained with a portable AlphaGuard device, Professional Radon Monitor. An ANOVA analysis was performed for each step (α = 0.05), considering a factorial arrangement design 3×2. For both FS and SS were detected statistical differences for the height factor (p < 0.05) and time factor (p < 0.05), but not for the interaction (p > 0.05). The 222Rn concentration was greatest at the height of 0.74 m (161.31 Bq m-3 in FS and 168.21 Bq m-3 in SS) which is higher than that of the international standards of the World Health Organization (WHO) of 100 Bq m-3 and higher than the standards of the United States of America (USA) of 148 Bq m-3.

Palavras-chave : Radioactivity; indoor radon; office; health risk.