Radon - occurrence and impact on the health.

Radon is noble, monatomic, radioactive, heavier than the air gas. It is colorless, odorless, tasteless. It exists in natural environment as a result of the decay of radium, and emits mainly alpha radiation and less beta radiation. Residential radon concentrations vary widely by geographic area. The higher concentration of radon is expected globally in the grounds where uranium, radium and thoron are present. Radon may gather in caves, tunnels, mines as well as in other lowestlying spaces, such as basements, and cellars. In accordance with Atomic Law (2000), the reference level for the average annual concentration of radioactive radon in rooms intended for human habitation is 300 Bq/m3. The most dangerous damages caused by ionizing radiation i.e. radon and its derivatives are changes to DNA, which may disturb the functions of cells and in the consequence lead to induction of cancer of respiratory tract, mainly of lungs and also leukaemia. So, the main consequence of exposure to high amount of radon are cancers of respiratory system. Radon enters the human organism mainly through inhaled atmospheric air. Moreover, radon significantly increased a risk of induction cancer in smokers and vice versa, smoking promotes the development of lung cancer after the exposure to radon and its derivatives. Radon may also have beneficial effect on the human body. Therefore it is used in medicine; mainly in radonbalneotherapy i.e. bath treatments, rinsing the mouth and inhalation. Beneficial effects of radon confirms the validity of the theory of radiation hormesis, which assumes that low doses of radiation may stimulate the repair of DNA damage by activation of protective mechanisms, which neutralize free radicals.

The assessment of the ionizing radiation dose received by patients during some diagnostic X-ray examinations carried out on the basis of the working procedures in the health care entities

Background: X-ray examination is a popular and universally used injury and disease diagnostic method. A distinctive X ray examination feature is that it can be done quickly which is extremely important in case of the need for rapid diagnosis of patients in life threatening condition. Another advantage of the X-ray examinations is also relatively low cost of carry. However, X-ray examination involve adverse health effects. During the examination the patient is subjected to ionizing radiation that might have impact on his health. Objective: The aim of this study has been to determine and assess the size of the entrance surface doses (ESD) received by patients during selected X-ray examinations performed on the basis of the medical working procedures available in healthcare entities in Masovian Voivodeship in Poland. Materials and Method: The examinations were conducted for 71 X-ray units located in the Masovian Voivodeship. Measurements of doses received by the patients were based on our own validated test methods. Results: It was found that the range applied to the high voltage in healthcare entities does not always coincide with the values specified in the standard procedures. It was found in the skull projection radiography AP and LAT that the recorded values were from range 60 to 82 kV (the average value of 74 kV) while in accordance with a standard procedure they should be in the range from 65 to 75 kV. Only in case of cervical spine radiography in the AP projection, the LAT exposure conditions were matching with the standard obligatory procedures in Poland. The consequence of selecting exposure conditions are significant differences in the size of the doses the patient receive during the same medical procedures. The greatest range of ESD doses was found during radiography of the thoracic spine in the projection AP and LAT. The projection LAT measured values were in the range of 523 to 10550 µGy (average value 2175 µGy). Conclusions: It is necessary to update immediately the standard procedures and to develop detailed guidelines for the preparation of working procedures in X-ray rooms.

[Natural radioactivity of potassium 40K in curative and natural mineral waters and dose estimation]. / Promieniotwórczosc naturalna potasu 40K w wodach leczniczych i naturalnych wodach mineralnych oraz ocena dawek.

Natural mineral and curative waters often characterize elevated level of mineral components. If the mineralization grows, the concentration natural radionuclides, which are one population's exposure sources on ionizing radiation, also grows. The main purposes work were: (1) determine the concentration isotope potassium 40K in samples of water, (2) calculate effective doses caused by intake of water with potassium 40K, (3)- explore correlation between potassium 40K concentration and total dissolved solids (TDS). The concentration radioisotope 40K in analysed samples determined by means of gamma spectrometry. Received concentrations have values from the interval 0.65 to 28.42 Bq/dm3. Measured values compared to values calculated from physico-chemical analyses composition of water, which amounted from 0.07 to 22.87 Bq/dm3. The calculated effective dose resulting from intake water with potassium 40K, concentration 2.26 Bq/dm3 equaled 294 nSv by treatment and caused by inhalation water with concentration 40K 1.45 Bq/dm3 reached value 9 nSv by treatment.

[Occurrence of radon 222Rn in curative waters]. / Wystepowanie radonu 222Rn w wodach leczniczych.

Radon is one of the best known human carcinogens. Natural radon (222Rn) is formed by decay of uranium (238U), directly of radium (226Ra). The aim of this study was to determine the activity concentration of radon in curative waters in Poland. The measurements were performed using alpha and beta liquid scintillation method Over 220 water samples from Polish spas have been analyzed. Arithmetic mean of radon concentration for curative waters was found to be 14.51 Bq/m3 within the range between 0.90 Bq/m3 to 193.10 Bq/m3. The average concentrations of radon-222 were ten times higher in water from slaskie and dolnoslaskie voivodeship than other voivodeships. In two sampls: water from intake J-300 in Jedlina Zdrój (116.1 Bq/dm3) and intake Marta in Szczawno Zdrój (193.1 Bq/dm3) the level of radon 74 Bq/dm3 has been reached and those samples could be classified as radon water. There are no limits for the radon concentration levels in curative waters. There are only recommendation of the Commission of the European Communities 2001/928/Euratom on the protection of the public against exposure to radon in drinking water supplies (100 Bq/l).

[Assessment of mammographic units in Poland in the view of current requirements of radiation protection regulations]. / Ocena aparatów mammograficznych w Polsce pod katem spelnienia wymagan aktualnych przepisów ochrony radiologicznej.

The aim of mammography examination is to discover as soon as possible any structural changes in a breast tissue. Every X-ray examination exposure the patient to the radiation as it takes place in mamnography images might be a cause of cancer. In this publication the dynamics growth of mammnography units number in Poland in years 1995,1997 and 2002 has been analyzed. The distribution of mammography units in Poland has been examined. The places of mammography units exploitation in regard to the type of health service institution has been determined. In this publication the manufacturers and the age of mammography units as a prerequisite to determine whether the specified mammography unit complies with the actual requirements in radiation protection regulations have been taken into consideration. The mammography laboratory equipment for providing quality control and the method of developing X-ray films has been also analyzed. It has been ascertained that about 25 % of mammography units do not comply with current technical requirements and they should be withdrawn from exploitation. However, it should be pointed out that there were only 554 mammography units in Poland at the end of year 2002. Their unequal distribution do not provide satisfactory availability to examinations for patients. As a result of this, the principal method of withdrawing them from exploitation should be replacing the time-worn the X-ray apparatuses with the new ones.

[Radon-222 in drinking water of Karkonoskie Plateau]. / Radon 222Rn w wodzie do picia z terenu pogórza karkonoskiego.

Radon-222 concentration in surface water, wells water and tap water in the main towns and villages which are located in area of Karkonoskie Plateau has been quantitative determined. The measurements were performed using the alpha liquid scintillation counting method. Majority of waterworks in Karkonoskie Plateau is supplied with the ground water in which the radon concentration is high from 87.5 Bq/l to 818.1 Bq/l. The waterworks in Karpacz are supplied with the surface water, which main characteristic is low radon concentration (below 10 Bq/l) and with the ground water have a high radon concentration (to 541 Bq/l). Radon-222 concentration in water of individual wells was similar to concentration in the ground water.

[Radon 222Rn in drinking water of Izera Plateau]. / Radon 222Rn w wodzie do picia z terenu Pogórza Izerskiego.

Radon-222 concentration in surface water, wells water and tap water in the main towns and villages which are located in area of Izera Plateau has been quantitative determined. The measurements were performed using the alpha liquid scintillation counting method. The main waterworks in Szklarska Poreba is supplied with the surface water in which the radon concentration is low: from 1.23 Bq/l to 4.32 Bq/l. Waterworks "Huta Julia" is supplied with the ground water have a high radon concentration: from 294.4 Bq/l to 319.5 Bq/l. Majority of waterworks in Izera Plateau is supplied with the ground water in which the radon concentration is high: from 113.3 Bq/l to 464.5 Bq/l. The appropriate mean value for water of individual wells was 253.0 Bq/l, within the range from 25.8 Bq/l to 1095.1 Bq/l.