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Radon, a radioactive gas, poses a significant health risk when accumulated in indoor environments. This study measured radon concentrations in three rooms with varying ventilation levels over a 12-month period, utilizing a Corentium monitor, an alpha spectroscopy-based radon detection device. The objective was to assess the impact of seasonal variations on indoor radon levels. The results indicated that the highest radon concentration, approximately 42 Bqm-3, was consistently observed in the closed room. In comparison, the partially closed room and the regularly occupied room with normal ventilation, had concentrations of 35 Bqm-3 and 31 Bqm-3, respectively. Across all three rooms, radon levels were lowest during the summer and peaked during the winter. The dose and risk associated with radon exposure were further analyzed using the RESRAD-BUILD computer code. All measured radon levels and associated doses were below the global safety limits. This study highlights the critical role of ventilation in controlling indoor radon levels and confirms that the environments studied remain within safe exposure thresholds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radon exhalation rate is the rate of radioactive radon gas that escapes from the soil into the atmosphere. In this study exhalation rate of radon was measured for 33 samples of soil, in four districts of Duhok province, using two different techniques: one using radon concentration and other using radium content, by both alpha and gamma spectroscopy. For the radon measurement, alpha-sensitive RAD7 detector was used. While in the second method, radon exhalation rate was expressed as a function of radium concentration, measured by well type Nal (Tl) detector and other soil parameters. Analysis, shows that the average of radon exhalation rate, by the first technique, varies from 14.6 ±3.2 to 55.7 ± 1.6 Bqm-2h-1, while by the second technique, it varies from 13.3 ± 2.4 to 50.6 ± 4.1 Bqm-2h-1. Overall, the measured values, for both methods at all the sample points, present a good correlation and less than global mean average recommendation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]