Exposure to radon in the northern part of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan

摘要

Indoor radon levels in the Issyk-Kul region of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan are investigated in detail for the first time. The average winter and summer radon concentrations were 270 and 180 Bqm~(-3), respectively; the winter to summer ratio was calculated to 1.5. There is no statistically significant correlation between winter and summer Rn concentration values in dwellings. The influence of building type (rural or urban) or wall materials on the radon concentration was negligible. Considerable thoron (~(220)Rn) decay product equivalent equilibrium concentrations (EEC) were observed (average values 5.9 and 15 Bqm~(-3) for urban and rural dwellings, respectively). An assumption of the dominant role of the diffusion process in radon and thoron entry into dwellings was invoked.