Radon Occupational Exposure on Workers Health
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2020
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Rīgas Stradiņa universitāte
Rīga Stradiņš University
Rīga Stradiņš University
Abstract
Radona ekspozīcija darba vietā vienmēr ir bijis un vēl joprojām ir risks darbinieku veselībai.
Par kādām sekām attiecībā uz veselību jau ir zināms un vai ir jauni pētījumi šai jomā? Ko var
darīt, lai minimizētu ar radona ekspozīciju saistītos riskus? Šī darba mērķis ir identificēt
profesijas, kuras saskaras ar radona ekspozīcijas draudiem un atrast iespējamo risinājumu to
novēršanai. Izmantotās metodes, lai sasniegtu šo mērķi, ir iepazīties ar būtiskāko informāciju
par radonu, piemēram, kur tas ir atrodams, kādu profesiju pārstāvji ikdienā ar to saskaras, kur
vērojami augstākie onkoloģisko slimību rādītāji un kādas ir pastāvošās vadlīnijas un
norādījumi šai jomā no valdībām un veselības organizācijām. Atbildot uz šiem jautājumiem
tiks secināts par iespējamiem veicamajiem uzlabojumiem šai jomā. Šī darba ietvaros tika
analizēti raksti, zinātniskās publikācijas un citi tiešsaistē pieejamie avoti, lai rastu atbildes uz
jautājumiem par radona bīstamību un jaunākajiem atklājumiem saistībā ar to. Darba beigās
atrodami pāris priekšlikumi un ierosinājumi par to, kā uzlabot esošo situāciju un izglītot
cilvēkus par šo neredzamo draudu.
Kopumā var secināt, ka radons nav problēma tikai derīgo izrakteņu ieguves industrijā, kur tas
pirmo reizi tika identificēts un kur tā koncentrācijas vēl joprojām sasniedz visaugstāko
līmeni, bet ar to saskaras arī darbinieki slikti ventilētās ēkās un ofisos, kā arī darbinieki,
piemēram, zivju audzēšanas industrijā. Izmantojot t.s. radona kartes viegli var identificēt
zonas, kur radona līmeņiem ir tendence būt augstākiem un sasniegt bīstamas koncentrācijas
līmeņus. Pētījumi pierāda, ka pat radona līmeņa paaugstināšanās par 100 Bq/m 3 var būtiski
paaugstināt indivīda risku saslimt ar plaušu vēzi. Jaunākie pētījumi cenšas atrast atbildi uz
jautājumu, vai pastāv arī citi nezināmi veselības riski, taču informācijas, dalībnieku trūkuma
un neskaidru datu dēļ, korelācija starp radona ekspozīciju un citām saslimšanām pagaidām
nav novērota. Eiropas Savienība un Pasaules Veselības organizācija ir izdevušas vadlīnijas,
kas reglamentē ar arodu saistīto radona ekspozīciju un skaidri nosaka, kādi radona līmeņi ir
bīstami darbinieka veselībai. Taču tam nepieciešams veikt pietiekami daudz mērījumu t.s. arī
profesijās, kuras parasti netiek asociētas ar augstu radona ekspozīciju.
Radon exposure at the workplace has been and still is a real risk for employee`s health. But what health implications are already known, and are there any new researches on this topic? What can be done to minimize the risk of radon exposure? The paper aims at identifying the occupations which are under the threat of radon exposure and finding a possible solution. Its methods to reach this aim is to look into the questions around radon, such as where it can be found, who and which occupations are affected, where the highest incidences of cancer are and what guidelines are given by the governments and healthcare institutions and then to draw a conclusion about further improvement. For this scientific research many articles, studies and other online sources were analysed to find out about radon`s dangers and newest understandings in this sector. In the end a short proposal can be found how to further improve the current situation and educate the people about this invisible threat. In conclusion, radon is not only a problem in the mining industry where it was found first and where its concentrations are still the highest, it can also become a problem for employees in bad ventilated buildings and offices, e.g. for workers at freshwater plants and workers in the fish breeding industry. Via radon maps, the risk for increased radon levels can be accessed easily to learn which areas are prone to higher and more dangerous concentrations. Studies have shown that even the increase of 100 Bq/m3 can already significantly increase a person’s risk for lung cancer. Recent studies tried to answer the question if there are other unknown health risks, but due to the lack of information, participants and the unclear results, no further correlations between radon and other diseases could be found. The European Union and the WHO have guidelines which restrict the occupational radon exposure and clearly show which levels are threatening the worker`s health and which are not. But those can only be considered if enough measurements are made, also in areas or occupations which are not exactly associated with a high radon exposure.
Radon exposure at the workplace has been and still is a real risk for employee`s health. But what health implications are already known, and are there any new researches on this topic? What can be done to minimize the risk of radon exposure? The paper aims at identifying the occupations which are under the threat of radon exposure and finding a possible solution. Its methods to reach this aim is to look into the questions around radon, such as where it can be found, who and which occupations are affected, where the highest incidences of cancer are and what guidelines are given by the governments and healthcare institutions and then to draw a conclusion about further improvement. For this scientific research many articles, studies and other online sources were analysed to find out about radon`s dangers and newest understandings in this sector. In the end a short proposal can be found how to further improve the current situation and educate the people about this invisible threat. In conclusion, radon is not only a problem in the mining industry where it was found first and where its concentrations are still the highest, it can also become a problem for employees in bad ventilated buildings and offices, e.g. for workers at freshwater plants and workers in the fish breeding industry. Via radon maps, the risk for increased radon levels can be accessed easily to learn which areas are prone to higher and more dangerous concentrations. Studies have shown that even the increase of 100 Bq/m3 can already significantly increase a person’s risk for lung cancer. Recent studies tried to answer the question if there are other unknown health risks, but due to the lack of information, participants and the unclear results, no further correlations between radon and other diseases could be found. The European Union and the WHO have guidelines which restrict the occupational radon exposure and clearly show which levels are threatening the worker`s health and which are not. But those can only be considered if enough measurements are made, also in areas or occupations which are not exactly associated with a high radon exposure.
Description
Medicīna
Medicine
Veselības aprūpe
Health Care
Medicine
Veselības aprūpe
Health Care
Keywords
radons, Radona ekspozīcija, ietekme uz veselību, plaušu vēzis, radon, occupational exposure, health impact, lung cancer