Biomaterial Database

Radon exhalation from temperature treated loess. 2022

Pengfei Li, and Qiang Sun, and Jishi Geng, and Xusheng Yan, and Liyun Tang

College of Geology and Environment, Xi'an University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710054, China. Electronic address: lipengfei@stu.xust.edu.cn.

Radon gas is a cancer risk and exists naturally in certain soils, such as loess, which is an important raw earth construction material in arid regions such as northwestern China and southern USA. Accordingly, the radon exhalationed from building materials is of increasing concern; however, there is little research on radon exhalation from loess. In this study, the pore structure and radon exhalation characteristics of heat-treated loess were investigated by nitrogen adsorption tests, swept surface electron microscopy, and radon measurements. The rate of radon exhalation increases linearly with temperature until 400 °C and then decreases exponentially. Changes in the internal pore structure (pore type, surface morphology, and specific surface area) of loess are strongly correlated with the radon exhalation rate. The volume of micropores (<2 nm diameter) is an important influence on radon exhalation ability, which is closely related to the fractal dimension of the micropore structure after heating. The results provide guidance for predicting the radiation risk posed by radon diffusing from loess.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D011834	Radiation Monitoring	The observation, either continuously or at intervals, of the levels of radiation in a given area, generally for the purpose of assuring that they have not exceeded prescribed amounts or, in case of radiation already present in the area, assuring that the levels have returned to those meeting acceptable safety standards.	Monitoring, Radiation
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)
D003252	Construction Materials	Supplies used in building.	Building Materials,Building Material,Construction Material,Material, Building,Material, Construction,Materials, Building,Materials, Construction
D000396	Air Pollutants, Radioactive	Pollutants present in air which exhibit radioactivity.	Radioactive Air Pollutants,Pollutants, Radioactive Air
D013696	Temperature	The property of objects that determines the direction of heat flow when they are placed in direct thermal contact. The temperature is the energy of microscopic motions (vibrational and translational) of the particles of atoms.	Temperatures
D045853	Exhalation	The act of BREATHING out.	Exhaling,Expiration, Respiratory,Exhalations,Expirations, Respiratory,Respiratory Expiration,Respiratory Expirations