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Seasonal Variation of Indoor Radon Concentration Levels in Different Premises of a University Building

Author

Listed:
  • Pranas Baltrėnas

    (Research Institute of Environmental Protection, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Sauletekis avenue 11, LT-10223 Vilnius, Lithuania)

  • Raimondas Grubliauskas

    (Department of Environmental Protection and Water Engineering, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Sauletekis avenue 11, LT-10223 Vilnius, Lithuania)

  • Vaidotas Danila

    (Research Institute of Environmental Protection, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Sauletekis avenue 11, LT-10223 Vilnius, Lithuania)

Abstract

In the present study, we aimed to determine the changes of indoor radon concentrations depending on various environmental parameters, such as the outdoor temperature, relative humidity, and air pressure, in university building premises of different applications and heights. The environmental parameters and indoor radon concentrations in four different premises were measured each working day over an eight-month period. The results showed that the indoor radon levels strongly depended on the outside temperature and outside relative humidity, whereas the weakest correlations were found between the indoor radon levels and indoor and outdoor air pressures. The obtained indoor radon concentration and environmental condition correlations were different for the different premises of the building. That is, in two premises where the ventilation effect through unintentional air leakage points prevailed in winter, positive correlations between the radon concentration and outside temperature were obtained, reaching the values of 0.94 and 0.92, respectively. In premises with better airtightness, negative correlations ( R = −0.96 and R = −0.62) between the radon concentrations and outside temperature were obtained. The results revealed that high quality air isolation in premises could be an important factor for higher indoor radon levels during summer compared to winter.

Suggested Citation

  • Pranas Baltrėnas & Raimondas Grubliauskas & Vaidotas Danila, 2020. "Seasonal Variation of Indoor Radon Concentration Levels in Different Premises of a University Building," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-15, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:15:p:6174-:d:392571
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Carlos Rizo-Maestre & Víctor Echarri-Iribarren & Antonio Galiano-Garrigós, 2019. "Ventilation as an Indispensable Tool for Healthy Constructions: Comparison of Alicante’s Urban Railway Tunnels," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-20, November.
    2. Carlos Rizo Maestre & Victor Echarri Iribarren, 2019. "The Importance of Checking Indoor Air Quality in Underground Historic Buildings Intended for Tourist Use," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-17, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Juliana P. Sá & Pedro T. B. S. Branco & Maria C. M. Alvim-Ferraz & Fernando G. Martins & Sofia I. V. Sousa, 2022. "Radon in Indoor Air: Towards Continuous Monitoring," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-11, January.

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