Build a green and healthy home - Radon Resistant New Construction

Session

Civil Engineering, Infrastructure and Environment

Description

Undetectable by our senses, radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is formed from the decay of uranium-238 (238U) in rocks and soil. Its increased levels expose health hazard to humans living or working in old and new houses and buildings, well-sealed or drafty homes, residences and working places with or without basements. Our buildings act like vacuum cleaners, drawing radon from the soil through cracks, holes, and other penetrations in the foundation and into the building. In general its high levels in the air are hazardous to all humans, but young people in particular are mostly vulnerable to its radioactive effect. Based on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates, lung cancer due to radon exposure claims about 21,000 U.S. lives annually. In every country, based on national average levels of radon and prevalence of smoking, it is estimated that around 3-14 is the percentage of radon related lung cancers. In Europe, radon in the home accounts for about 9% of deaths from lung cancer and 2% of all deaths from cancer. What about in Kosovo ?! Everyone subjected to long-term exposure of excessive levels of radon incurs an increased risk of developing lung cancer, this risk increasing linearly with the radon concentration (measured in Becquerel per cubic meter, Bq/m3).

As it is a global problem, our country, without being any exception should deal with this issue in order to reduce the risk of cancerous and other diseases deriving from radon inhalation or contact. A technically effective, easy and low cost way of radon concentration reduction is presented in this paper. It is the contribution of this paper to establish an applicable engineering method in constructing building with reduced hazard from radon.

Keywords:

Green Building, Radon, Lung Cancer, Construction.

Proceedings Editor

Edmond Hajrizi

ISBN

978-9951-550-50-5

Location

UBT Kampus, Lipjan

Start Date

29-10-2022 12:00 AM

End Date

30-10-2022 12:00 AM

DOI

10.33107/ubt-ic.2022.211

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Build a green and healthy home - Radon Resistant New Construction

UBT Kampus, Lipjan

Undetectable by our senses, radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is formed from the decay of uranium-238 (238U) in rocks and soil. Its increased levels expose health hazard to humans living or working in old and new houses and buildings, well-sealed or drafty homes, residences and working places with or without basements. Our buildings act like vacuum cleaners, drawing radon from the soil through cracks, holes, and other penetrations in the foundation and into the building. In general its high levels in the air are hazardous to all humans, but young people in particular are mostly vulnerable to its radioactive effect. Based on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates, lung cancer due to radon exposure claims about 21,000 U.S. lives annually. In every country, based on national average levels of radon and prevalence of smoking, it is estimated that around 3-14 is the percentage of radon related lung cancers. In Europe, radon in the home accounts for about 9% of deaths from lung cancer and 2% of all deaths from cancer. What about in Kosovo ?! Everyone subjected to long-term exposure of excessive levels of radon incurs an increased risk of developing lung cancer, this risk increasing linearly with the radon concentration (measured in Becquerel per cubic meter, Bq/m3).

As it is a global problem, our country, without being any exception should deal with this issue in order to reduce the risk of cancerous and other diseases deriving from radon inhalation or contact. A technically effective, easy and low cost way of radon concentration reduction is presented in this paper. It is the contribution of this paper to establish an applicable engineering method in constructing building with reduced hazard from radon.