Published March 2013 | Version v1
Journal article

Environmental and indoor study of Radon concentration in San Joaquin area, Queretaro, Mexico, first results

  • 1. Centro de Geociencias en Juriquilla, UNAM, Apdo Postal 1-742, Centro Querétaro, Querétaro, México, C.P. 76001 (Mexico)
  • 2. UANL, Facultad de Ciencias de la Tierra, Linares, Nuevo León, México (Mexico)
  • 3. Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie geologiche, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Milano (Italy)
  • 4. UAEM, CIICAp, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México (Mexico)
  • 5. Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano (Italy)
  • 6. Instituto de Física, UNAM, México D.F., México (Mexico)
  • 7. Centro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera, UNAM, México (Mexico)
  • 8. Istituto per la Dinamica dei Processi Ambientali, c/o Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Milano (Italy)

Description

A highly contaminated zone with a maximum over 57,000 Bq/m3 was discovered in a populated community “Agua de Venados” during the 2009–2011 soil Radon survey in San Joaquin, Queretaro State, Mexico. The indoor Radon monitoring accomplished in 2 different époques in a nearby 4 dwellings has shown an increased Radon hazard in 1 of the 4 buildings (about 300 Bq/m3) during a rainy season and highly elevated indoor Radon levels (over 400 Bq/m3) already in 3 buildings during a dry season. The averaged diurnal indoor Radon variations are in a correlation with the atmospheric pressure and the air humidity and are independent on the air temperature. The maximum indoor Radon hazard for dwellings is estimated for the morning interval 5–10 a.m. - Highlights: ► Emanative zone of 57,000 Bq/m3 was found in area “Agua de Venados”. ► Indoor Radon level in a nearby dwellings elevates during a dry season. ► Maximum risk for residents was estimated during the daily interval 5–10 a.m

Availability note (English)

Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.radmeas.2012.11.009

Additional details

Identifiers

DOI
10.1016/j.radmeas.2012.11.009;
PII
S1350-4487(12)00325-3;

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Radiation Measurements
Journal Volume
50
Journal Page Range
p. 149-153
ISSN
1350-4487
CODEN
RMEAEP

INIS

Country of Publication
United Kingdom
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
46120041
Subject category
S54: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; S61: RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY;
Descriptors DEI
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE; BUILDINGS; CONCENTRATION RATIO; GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS; HAZARDS; HUMIDITY; MEXICO; RADON; SEASONS
Descriptors DEC
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES; DIMENSIONLESS NUMBERS; ELEMENTS; FLUIDS; GASES; GEOLOGIC SURVEYS; LATIN AMERICA; MOISTURE; NONMETALS; NORTH AMERICA; RARE GASES

Optional Information

Copyright
Copyright (c) 2012 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.