Residential Radon in Manizales, Colombia: Results of a Pilot Study

Alexandra Giraldo-Osorio, Alberto Ruano-Ravina, Mónica Pérez-Ríos, Leonor Varela-Lema, Juan Miguel Barros-Dios and Nelson Enrique Arias-Ortiz
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Alexandra Giraldo-Osorio: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Alberto Ruano-Ravina: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Mónica Pérez-Ríos: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Leonor Varela-Lema: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Juan Miguel Barros-Dios: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Nelson Enrique Arias-Ortiz: Grupo de Investigación Promoción de la Salud y Prevención de la Enfermedad (GIPSPE), Departamento de Salud Pública, Universidad de Caldas, Manizales 170002, Colombia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 3, 1-11

Abstract: Radon is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless noble gas, causally related with the onset of lung cancer. We aimed to describe the distribution of radon exposure in the municipality of Manizales, Colombia, in order to estimate the population’s exposure and establish the percentage of dwellings that surpass reference levels. A cross-sectional study representing all geographical areas was carried out by measuring indoor radon concentrations. Participants answered a short questionnaire. Alpha-track type radon detectors were installed in all residences for six months. The detectors were subsequently processed at the Galician Radon Laboratory, an accredited laboratory at the University of Santiago de Compostela. A total of 202 homes were measured. Seventy-seven percent of the sampled houses were three stories high, their median age was 30 years, and half were inhabited by three people or fewer. For most dwellings, the building materials of walls and flooring were brick and covered cement, respectively. Results showed a geometric mean of radon concentration of 8.5 Bq/m 3 and a maximum value of 50 Bq/m 3 . No statistically significant differences were found either between the geometric mean of the dwelling’s site, the height at which detectors were placed inside the home, or the wall and flooring materials, or between mean 222 Rn concentrations in rural and urban areas. No dwelling surpassed the 222 Rn reference level established by the WHO. This study shows that residential radon levels in Manizales, Colombia, seem to be low, though a more in-depth approach should be carried out. Despite these results, it is essential to create a national radon program and establish a radon concentration reference level for Colombia in line with international recommendations.

Keywords: radon; lung cancer; dwelling; cross-sectional studies; natural radiation; public health; Colombia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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