Biomaterial Database

[Sources of ionizing radiation in dwellings]. 1991

S Orsini, and M Campoleoni, and M Rozza, and T Terrana

Sezione di Fisica Sanitaria, Radiologia IOG, Istituti Clinici di Perfezionamento, Milano.

According to recent surveys made by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and the World Health Organization (WHO), it has been estimated that in temperate regions people spend only 20% of their time outdoors and spend the remaining 80% indoors (homes, schools, other buildings). It is therefore important to establish whether radiation sources exist inside buildings in order to assess risk for the population. The 238U and 232Th radioactive chains are of particular importance because of Radon and Radon daughter production and 40K as component of building materials. It has been estimated that about 4.5% of lung cancers observed in the population are associated with exposure to Radon daughters. In order to comply with international regulations it is estimated that 1.5% of the existing dwellings in temperate regions need to be improved.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007558	Italy	A country in southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia. The capital is Rome.	Sardinia
D007854	Lead	A soft, grayish metal with poisonous salts; atomic number 82, atomic weight 207.2, symbol Pb.
D011059	Polonium	A radioactive element that is a member of the chalcogen family. It has the atomic symbol Po, atomic number 84, and the atomic weight of the isotope with the longest half-life (209Po) is 208.98. It decays by alpha-emission.
D011197	Potassium Radioisotopes	Unstable isotopes of potassium that decay or disintegrate emitting radiation. K atoms with atomic weights 37, 38, 40, and 42-45 are radioactive potassium isotopes.	Radioisotopes, Potassium
D011839	Radiation, Ionizing	ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION or particle radiation (high energy ELEMENTARY PARTICLES) capable of directly or indirectly producing IONS in its passage through matter. The wavelengths of ionizing electromagnetic radiation are equal to or smaller than those of short (far) ultraviolet radiation and include gamma and X-rays.	Ionizing Radiation,Ionizing Radiations,Radiations, Ionizing
D011886	Radon	A naturally radioactive element with atomic symbol Rn, and atomic number 86. It is a member of the noble gas family found in soil, and is released during the decay of RADIUM.	Actinon,Thoron (Element)
D001729	Bismuth	A metallic element that has the atomic symbol Bi, and atomic number 83. Its principal isotope is Bismuth 209.
D003252	Construction Materials	Supplies used in building.	Building Materials,Building Material,Construction Material,Material, Building,Material, Construction,Materials, Building,Materials, Construction
D006798	Housing	Living facilities for humans.	Family-Patient Lodging,Patient-Family Lodging,Family Patient Lodging,Family-Patient Lodgings,Lodging, Family-Patient,Lodging, Patient-Family,Lodgings, Family-Patient,Lodgings, Patient-Family,Patient Family Lodging,Patient-Family Lodgings
D000398	Air Pollution, Radioactive	Contamination of air with radioactive substances.	Radioactive Air Pollution,Pollution, Radioactive Air