Browsing by Author "Romans, Andris"

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    Assessment of Indoor Radon Gas Concentration in Latvian Households
    (2024-05-18) Reste, Jeļena; Rīmere, Nadīna; Romans, Andris; Martinsone, Žanna; Mārtiņsone, Inese; Vanadziņš, Ivars; Pavlovska, Ilona; Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine; Institute of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health
    Exposure to radon gas in households presents serious health risks, including an increased likelihood of lung cancer. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the change in individual habits has led to more time spent in indoor environments with remote activities; thus, the need to raise the awareness of air quality in dwellings and to mitigate the exposure of inhabitants to radon has emerged. This study investigated radon gas concentrations in the air of Latvian dwellings. RadTrack2 passive detectors were deployed in a representative sample of households across 106 municipalities of Latvia (98% of the territory), yielding data from 487 households (973 detectors). The data revealed a median radon concentration of 52 Bq/m3 (Q1 and Q3 were 29 and 93 Bq/m3), with the majority of samples (95.6%) falling below the national reference limit of 200 Bq/m3. The building type and presence of a cellar significantly impacted radon levels, with structures lacking cellars and older buildings exhibiting higher concentrations. Mechanical ventilation proved to be more effective in reducing radon levels, compared to natural ventilation. These findings emphasize the necessity of proactive measures to mitigate indoor radon exposure and to ensure the well-being of occupants. Additionally, the dissemination of research data on radon exposure through open-access scientific publications is vital for raising awareness and implementing effective mitigation strategies.
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    Indoor Air Radon Concentration in Premises of Public Companies and Workplaces in Latvia
    (2022-02-10) Reste, Jeļena; Pavlovska, Ilona; Martinsone, Žanna; Romans, Andris; Mārtiņsone, Inese; Vanadziņš, Ivars; Institute of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health; Laboratory of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases; Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
    Considering the multitudes of people who spend their time working indoors in public premises and workplaces, it is worth knowing what their level of exposure is to natural radioactive radon gas, the second most widespread and dangerous carcinogen for lung cancer development after cigarette smoking. This state‐level study covered most of the territory of Latvia and conducted 941 radon measurements with Radtrack2, placed for 4–6 months in the premises of public companies, educational institutions, medical care institutions, etc. The study found that 94.7% of samples did not exceed the national permissible limit (200 Bq/m 3), the level at which preventive measures should be initiated. The median value of average specific radioactivity of radon in these premises was 48 Bq/m 3 (Q1 and Q3 being 27 and 85 Bq/m 3), which is below the average of the European region. Slightly higher concentrations were observed in well‐insulated premises with plastic windows and poorer air exchange, mostly in schools (59 (36, 109) Bq/m 3) and kindergartens (48 (32, 79) Bq/m 3). Industrial workplaces had surprisingly low radon levels (28 (16, 55) Bq/m 3) due to strict requirements for air quality and proper ventilation. Public premises and workplaces in Latvia mostly have low radon concentrations in the air, but more attention should be paid to adequate ventilation and air exchange.