Measurements and CFD modeling of outdoor radon dispersion

Inhalation of radon (222Rn) and its daughter product are a major source of natural radiation exposure. The measurement and numerical modeling of radon concentration in outdoor is assuming ever increasing importance. It is known from recent surveys in many countries that radon and its progeny contribute significantly to total inhalation dose and it is fairly established that radon when inhaled in large quantity causes lung disorder. Keeping this in view, this study focuses on investigating both numerically and experimentally the influence of geological and meteorological conditions on the radon concentration outdoor. The numerical results showed that ventilation rate, temperature and humidity have significant impacts on both radon content and distribution. The variations of radon concentration with the ventilation, temperature and relative humidity are discussed. The numerical simulation results were validated with analytical calculation and experimental measurement. The experimental measurement was performed using Radon Scout PLUS. The simulation and analytical calculation in this study are relatively consistent to the measurement results.