Reducción de los niveles de 222Rn en viviendas de la parroquia “Victoria del Portete”, cantón Cuenca, provincia del Azuay.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to reduce radon levels in homes of the Parish "Victoria del Portete", Cuenca Canton, Azuay Province, using two remediation techniques (aeration and upholstery). With the help of Corentium Home equipment, 30 measurements were made in dwellings of different construction material type, adobe, wood, block, brick and mixed. A proper training was carried out to the residents of the place to easily access their bedrooms where this gas accumulates, and people spend a considerable percentage in these places. The houses in the study, were of one or two stories, and contained: doors and windows in their bedrooms. The first measurement was executed in triplicate in each dwelling, the highest values were taken and the remediation techniques were applied, previously sealing fissures or cracks in walls and floors with plaster so that these methods are effective. The second measurement helped verify the reduction of initial radon concentrations below the limits allowed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which is 150 Bq/m -xv-3. The average of the initial concentration of radon was 578.22 Bq /m 3, a value that exceeds the permissible limits. After the remediation, it was determined that the annual dose absorbed by the inhabitants of the Parish is 1.14 mSv/y, value below the permissible limits (1.2 mSv/y) recommended by the EPA. The applied remediation techniques decreased these levels 83.85% by the aeration method and by 85.30% by the upholstery method. It is recommended that people in the sector include aeration and upholstery in their daily lives to reduce these high levels of radon in their homes.