A STUDY ON RADON EXPOSURE

IN THE SELECTED POTENTIAL

WORKPLACES
Noor Hafizie Sulkafle
Department of Occupational Safety and Health

INTRODUCTION

What is radon?
An element from Group 18 (noble gases) of Periodic
Table of the Elements
Colourless and odourless gas
Produced by radioactive decay of radium-226
Half-life: 3.8 days

Measuring unit: pCi/L or Bq/m3

URANIUM-238 DECAY SCHEME

SOURCES OF RADON GAS

Tin mines
Underground buildings
Underground water sources
Rocks and soil

RADON & HEALTH

According to WHO, radon is the 2nd most
important cause for lung cancer in many
countries.
Once inhale, radon will undergo radioactive
decay to produce bismuth, polonium and lead.
This radioactive decay release high-energy alpha
particle which can damage cells in lung.
Furthermore, lead is classified as possibly
carcinogenic to humans by IARC (IARC Group
2B)
WHO recommended 100 Bq/m3 (2.7 pCi/L) as a
national reference level, or maximum of 300
Bq/m3 (8.1 pCi/L) if that level cannot be reached.

CAUSES OF LUNG CANCER DEATH IN THE

U.S (2003 2004)
3,000
21,000

Smoking
Radon
Passive smokers
160,000

Source:
www.emedicinehealth.com

RADON IN MALAYSIA

In Malaysia, there are lots of tin mines, and most of

them are now inactive become new housing
estate/office buildings.
These buildings possess radon threat to its occupants.
Ergo, in many countries, radon gas is considered as
an indoor air quality parameter.
As to date, there is no legislation/standards for radon
exposure limit for workers in Malaysia (except for
NORM industries)
Therefore, the purpose of this study is to produce a
radon profile for potential workplaces, and to set a
radon exposure standard for that workplaces in
Malaysia.

RADON REFERENCE LEVEL AROUND THE

WORLD
Country/Organisation

Radon
Reference
Level
(Bq/m3)

Country/Organisation

Radon
Reference
Level (Bq/m3)

Netherland

20

Germany

250

Luxembourg

150

Austria

400

USA

150

Belgium

400

Australia

200

Finland

400

Ireland

200

Switzerland

400

Norway

200

Canada

800

Sweden

200

European Community

400

United Kingdom

200

Basic Safety Standard

(IAEA, WHO & others)

200 600

International
Commission on
Radiological Protection

200 600

Source: Environmental Radon Newsletter, Issue 5,

Autumn 1995

MONITORING EQUIPMENT

Durridge Professional Electronic Radon

Detector, RAD7

MONITORING TECHNIQUE
48 hours (continuous), as suggested by US
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in
Indoor Radon and Radon Decay Product
Management Device Protocols
For the purpose of this study, the action level set
by EPA (4 pCi/L) and national reference level
recommended by WHO (2.7 pCi/L) will be used as
reference.

WORKPLACE 1 UNDERGROUND
BUILDING

Results:

Point A
Average: 0.32 0.06 pCi/L
Maximum: 0.98 0.48 pCi/L
Minimum: 0.04 0.21 pCi/L

Point B
Average: 0.54 0.05 pCi/L
Maximum: 1.02 0.46 pCi/L
Minimum: 0.07 0.23 pCi/L

WORKPLACE 2 THEME PARK

Results:

Point A
Average: 1.00 0.11 pCi/L
Maximum: 1.63 0.57 pCi/L
Minimum: 0.29 0.31 pCi/L

Point B
Average: 0.52 0.07 pCi/L
Maximum: 1.02 0.49 pCi/L
Minimum: 0.12 .027 pCi/L

WORKPLACE 3 (PART I) UNDERGROUND

PARKING

Results:

Point A
Average: 3.53 0.36 pCi/L
Maximum: 5.95 1.05 pCi/L
Minimum: 1.61 0.59 pCi/L

Point B
Average: 0.57 0.09 pCi/L
Maximum: 1.41 0.53 pCi/L
Minimum: 0.25 0.28 pCi/L

WORKPLACE 3 (PART II) UNDERGROUND

BUILDING

Results:

Point A
Average: 0.61 0.17 pCi/L
Maximum: 2.48 0.71 pCi/L
Minimum: 0.00 0.16 pCi/L

Point B
Average: 1.28 0.26 pCi/L
Maximum: 3.63 0.82 pCi/L
Minimum: 0.36 0.34 pCi/L

WORKPLACE 4 - DAM

Results:

Point A
Average: 5.66 0.69 pCi/L
Maximum: 15.6 1.60 pCi/L
Minimum: 2.43 0.67 pCi/L

Point B
Average: 8.90 2.00 pCi/L
Maximum: 38.1 3.70 pCi/L
Minimum: 2.60 0.73 pCi/L

WORKPLACE 5 NORMAL OFFICE

BUILDING

Results:

Point A
Average: 1.96 0.14 pCi/L
Maximum: 3.07 0.78 pCi/L
Minimum: 1.25 0.53 pCi/L

Point B
Average: 1.93 0.16 pCi/L
Maximum: 2.90 0.74 pCi/L
Minimum: 0.76 0.45 pCi/L

WORKPLACE 6 UNDERGROUND PARKING

Results:

Point A
Average: 1.36 0.10 pCi/L
Maximum: 2.09 0.66 pCi/L
Minimum: 0.62 0.40 pCi/L

Point B
Average: 1.22 0.11 pCi/L
Maximum: 2.08 0.62 pCi/L
Minimum: 0.36 0.34 pCi/L

WORKPLACE 7 DAM 1

Results:

Point A
Average: 1.50 0.24 pCi/L
Maximum: 2.80 0.75 pCi/L
Minimum: 0.16 0.25 pCi/L

WORKPLACE 8 DAM 2

Results:

Point A
Average: 0.64 0.11 pCi/L
Maximum: 1.72 0.60 pCi/L
Minimum: 0.08 0.11 pCi/L

WORKPLACE 9 DAM 3

Results:

Point A
Average: 0.51 0.10 pCi/L
Maximum: 1.47 0.32 pCi/L
Minimum: 0.00 0.32 pCi/L

WORKPLACE 10 INDOOR BUILDING

Results:

Point A
Average: 1.20 0.08 pCi/L
Maximum: 1.94 0.61 pCi/L
Minimum: 0.67 0.62 pCi/L

Point B
Average: 1.28 0.09 pCi/L
Maximum: 1.80 0.23 pCi/L
Minimum: 0.32 0.53 pCi/L

NOTE

For Workplace 7 9, only 1 equipment available,

as the other one was sent to the manufacturer for
repair

CONCLUSION
Overall, exposure level in the selected workplaces
are low, but additional monitoring must be done
to get a better profile for workplaces in Malaysia.
Even though the exposure level is low, the risk is
still there.
Safety measure should be done to minimise the
risk:

Improve ventilation in the houses and workplaces

Avoid being present in the buildings with high
potential to radon exposure
Frequent medical check up