Risk Assessment of Radon Gas Concentration for Some Selected Offices on KNUST Campus, Kumasi

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2013-11
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Radon (222Rn) has been identified as an important factor that could result in a health hazard by studies all around the world. The health risks can be minimised by preventive measures where radon is highly concentrated as in some mines or homes or o ces. A study in the buildup concentration of the inert gas, will give us a better understanding of its possible pathways through soil into the air surrounding an o ce where the radon releases can become hazardous. Measuring the radon concentrations on Campus, can help to deduce the radon flux to identify the problem areas for rehabilitation. An active method incorporating Trace level radon gas detection and continuous monitoring method was used in this study to determine the radon concentration of the selected o ces. Concentrations ranging from 0.010 to 0.498 pCi/l were detected, with the head of Optometry and Visual Science recording the heighest concentration of o.498 pCi/l, while the head of Agricultural Engineering department o ce with the least concentration of 0.010 pCi/l. Although these concentrations are generally low as compared with the EPA guidelines of an action level of 4 pCi/l, but no amount of radiation is said to be safe.
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A Thesis Submitted to the Department of Physics,Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science
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