Indoor radon concentration and annual effective dose in 56 radiation areas at 34 medical institutions in South Korea

This study aims to measure the indoor radon concentration (IRC) of 56 radiation areas at 34 medical institutions to assess their adequacy as required by the South Korean Ministry of Environment and international standards, and calculate the annual effective dose (AED) of individuals in radiation-related professions at each medical institution. The study was conducted for 9 months and the AED was calculated according to the South Korean Nuclear Safety and Security Commission's equation. The environmental factors that can affect IRC were analyzed by medical institution, floor level, province and ventilation system. The IRC of eight radiation areas exceeded the recommendation of the International Commission on Radiological Protection, with max-AED and min-AED showing a difference of 1.42 mSv/y. Therefore, all radiation areas that exceed the recommended limits must set up preventative measures to minimize exposure. Furthermore, a systematic management plan involving the issuance of radon test reports is required. (authors)