Dealing with the increased radon concentration in thermally retrofitted buildings
Language English Country Great Britain, England Media print-electronic
Document type Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PubMed
24729563
DOI
10.1093/rpd/ncu104
PII: ncu104
Knihovny.cz E-resources
- MeSH
- Housing * MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Radiation Monitoring standards MeSH
- Facility Design and Construction standards MeSH
- Radiation Protection standards MeSH
- Radioactive Pollutants adverse effects analysis MeSH
- Radon adverse effects analysis MeSH
- Ventilation MeSH
- Air Pollution, Indoor analysis prevention & control MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Names of Substances
- Radioactive Pollutants MeSH
- Radon MeSH
The influence of energy-saving measures on indoor radon concentration has been studied on the basis of a family house made of clinker concrete wall panels containing from 1000 up to 4000 Bq kg(-1) of 226Ra. Thermal retrofitting based on installing external thermal insulation composite system on the building envelope and replacing existing windows by new ones decreased the annual energy need for heating 2.8 times, but also reduced the ventilation rate to values<0.1 h(-1). As a consequence, the 1-y average indoor radon concentration values increased 3.4 times from 337 to 1117 Bq m(-3). The additional risk of lung cancer in the thermally retrofitted house increased to a value that is 125 % higher than before conversion. Methods for dealing with this enhanced risk by increasing the ventilation rate are discussed. Recovery of investments and the energy consequences of increased ventilation are studied in a long-term perspective.
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