Elaboración de un mapa radiológico de radón de la zona rural de la ciudad de Riobamba

Abstract

Radon (222Rn) is a radioactive gas of natural origin, considered the second cause of lung cancer in smokers and the fires in non-smokers according to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2015). The objective of this research was to elaborate a radiological map of radon-222 in the rural area of Riobamba with the SST-EPERM detection system, consisting of an S-type ionization chamber and an Electret Short Term (detector). This work had a quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional approach. The technique used to determine the characteristics of the residences consisted of interviews with the owners. The map was made from the 222Rn concentrations measured in 121 houses distributed in different rural parishes, with a detector exposure time of 7 days. The overall mean of the concentrations in the study area was 34,65 Bq/m^3, Cacha is the parish with the lowest contamination (25,76 Bq/m^3) and Punín presents the maximum value of 42,89 Bq/m^3. Therefore, it is concluded that the indoor air in the houses is polluted with 222Rn but does not exceed the limit stipulated in EUROTAM Directive 2013/59 of 300 Bq/m^3.