Evaluating radon concentration and temporal correction factors in residential and workplace buildings: A comparison of passive and active methods.

Effective mitigation of the health impacts of radon exposure begins with accurate measurement of this environmental contaminant. Typically, radon surveys require measurements over a period of several months. This process involves the application of temporal correction factors (TCF).

Research on Best Solution for Improving Indoor Air Quality and Reducing Energy Consumption in a High-Risk Radon Dwelling from Romania.

The purpose of this article is the assessment of energy efficiency and indoor air quality for a single-family house located in Cluj-Napoca County, Romania. The studied house is meant to be an energy-efficient building with thermal insulation, low U-value windows, and a high efficiency boiler. Increasing the energy efficiency of the house leads to lower indoor air quality, due to lack of natural ventilation.

A comparative study of genotoxicity endpoints for women exposed to different levels of indoor radon concentrations.

Background And Purpose: Radon and its radioactive progenies are the most important source of ionizing radiation of natural origin, being classified as a Group 1 carcinogen. The aim of this study is to investigate the genotoxic effects of a wide range of indoor radon concentrations, as well as the kinetics of the process of repairing DNA-induced lesions by a challenging dose of gamma irradiation.

Material And Methods: Female subjects residing in the Băiţa-Ştei radon priority area were selected as the exposed group.

VARIATION OF INDOOR RADON CONCENTRATION WITHIN A RESIDENTIAL COMPLEX.

A recent challenge in research dedicated to residential exposure to radon comes from the growing number of houses retrofitted to reduce energy consumption. Efficiently insulated buildings and modern architectural solutions can lead to the accumulation of high levels of indoor pollutants. A systematic analysis was conducted in a residential complex (consisting of six houses) in order to assess the annual radon concentration and to evaluate the intensity of the relationships with various factors, such as the indoor-outdoor temperature differences, wind speed and wind direction.

The path from geology to indoor radon.

It is generally accepted that radon emission is strongly influenced by the geological characteristics of the bedrock. However, transport in-soil and entry paths indoors are defined by other factors such as permeability, building and architectural features, ventilation, occupation patterns, etc. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the contribution of each parameter, from natural to man-made, on the radon accumulation indoors and to assess potential patterns, based on 100 case studies in Romania.

Residential, soil and water radon surveys in north-western part of Romania.

The exposure to radon and radon decay products in homes and at workplaces represents the greatest risk from natural ionizing radiation. The present study brings forward the residential, soil and water radon surveys in 5 counties of Romania. Indoor radon measurements were performed by using CR-39 track detectors exposed for 3 months on ground-floor level of dwellings, according to the NRPB Measurements Protocol.

A high-resolution map of gamma dose rates in Cluj County, Romania using LiF:Mg,Cu,P detectors.

Outdoor gamma radiation measurements in Cluj County, Romania have been performed using solid-state thermoluminescent detectors in order to develop a high-resolution database for natural gamma dose rates. Integrated measurements have been carried out for an exposure time of minimum 3 weeks. According to European Union requirements, the territory has been divided into 69 grids of 10 × 10 km.

Radon concentration in drinking water and supplementary exposure in Baita-Stei mining area, Bihor county (Romania).

The radon concentration was measured in the drinking water of public water supply and private wells located in the mining area of BăiŢa-Ştei, Bihor County, Romania. The measurements were performed using the LUK-VR system based on radon gas measurement with Lucas cell. The results show that the radon concentrations are within the range of 1.

Comparison of risk scoring systems in predicting clinical outcome at upper gastrointestinal bleeding patients in an emergency unit.

Background: Admission Rockall score (RS), full RS, and Glasgow-Blatchford Bleeding Score (GBS) can all be used to stratify the risk in patients presenting with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) in the emergency department (ED). The aim of our study was to compare both admission and full RS and GBS in predicting outcomes at UGIB patients in a Romanian ED.

Patients And Methods: A total of 229 consecutive patients with UGIB were enrolled in the study.

Thorough investigations on indoor radon in Băiţa radon-prone area (Romania).

A comprehensive radon survey has been carried out in Băiţa radon-prone area, Transylvania, Romania, in 4 localities (Băiţa, Nucet, Fînaţe, and Cîmpani) 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. The annual average of indoor radon concentration for Băiţa area was found to be 241±178 Bq m(-3), which is about two times higher than the average value of 126 Bq m(-3), computed for Romania.

Preliminary lung cancer risk assessment of exposure to radon progeny for Transylvania, Romania.

The objective of the present study was to assess the lung cancer risk induced by exposures to radon progeny of people living in some areas of Transylvania, Romania. Indoor radon concentrations were measured in 667 dwellings of Stei area, Cluj, Bistrita-Nasaud, Sibiu, and Alba counties. Measurements were performed using CR-39 track detectors, exposed for a minimum of 3 mo.

Brain metastases secondary to breast cancer: symptoms, prognosis and evolution.

Aims And Background: Brain metastases confer a worse prognosis to breast cancer because they determine a severe increase in mortality. The aim of this study was to identify the early symptoms in patients with brain metastases after breast cancer treatment and to evaluate the median survival rate in women with single and operable brain lesions.

Patients And Methods: We examined 43 patients with brain metastases secondary to breast cancer treated in the Oncological Institute Prof I Chiricuţă, Cluj-Napoca, during the period 2000-2006.

Preliminary integrated indoor radon measurements in Transylvania (Romania).

Measurements of indoor radon concentrations were performed in 406 residential houses in five counties (Cluj, Bihor, Alba, Bistrita, and Sibiu) using Makrofol and CR-39 alpha-track detectors. From our measurements, an average indoor radon concentration of 82.5 Bq m(-3) for the Transylvanian population was calculated, i.

Comparative risk assessment of residential radon exposures in two radon-prone areas, Stei (Romania) and Torrelodones (Spain).

Radon and radon progeny are present indoors, in houses and others dwellings, representing the most important contribution to dose from natural sources of radiation. Most studies have demonstrated an increased risk of lung cancer at high concentration of radon for both smokers and nonsmokers. The work presents a comparative analysis of the radon exposure data in the two radon-prone areas, Stei, Transylvania, (Romania), in the near of old Romanian uranium mines and in the granitic area of Torrelodones town, Sierra de Guadarrama (Spain).