Fatores de influência nas concentrações de radônio 222 no ar do município de Picuí - PB.

Abstract

Humans are often exposed to natural sources of radiation, the main one being radon 222. Radon 222 is a gas with half-life time of 3.82 days due to decay of uranium 238. It is responsible for a large part of the ionizing radiation received by the population which may induce the appearance of lung and stomach cancer, among others. The objective of this work is to evaluate the influence factors on air radon 222 concentration in the city of Picuí-PB. Radon 222 concentrations were evaluated in 13 homes near a dam in the JK neighborhood, in the bedrooms and bathrooms of each. Measurements of radon 222 concentrations were performed by municipal health agentes through the Corentium Home Radon Detector equipment. For the statistical study, the XLSTAT software was used to evaluate if there was a correlation between radon 222 concentrations and the parameters analyzed. All radon 222 concentrations obtained were below the WHO standard of 100 Bq /m³. In the rooms the average concentration was 14.54±11.9 Bq /m³, higher than the average concentrations obtained in the bathrooms, wich was 10.25±8.84 Bq /m³. It was found that there is no influence of the weir on the radon 222 concentrations. There is a considerable influence of the water source only on the bathrooms concentration results. Regarding temperature, there was no influence of temperature on radon 222 concentratitons.