Indoor Radon Concentrations in Ankara Dwellings

The level of radon in domestic dwellings in Ankara, Tur key, was studied using CR-39 passive alpha track detec tors. During the period 1996-1997 indoor radon concen trations were measured in approximately 200 houses during a 6 months' winter period. Detectors were placed in two separate rooms of which one was a living room and the other was the main bedroom. Subsequent mea surements were performed at the Istanbul Çekmece Nu clear Research and Training Centre. Values obtained were between 2 and 408 Bq/m3. These long-term radon concentrations were found to follow a log-normal distri bution. Median values for living rooms and bedrooms were 19 and 25 Bq/m3, respectively. Indoor radon con centration was found to be associated with presence of cracks on the walls, building material used for floor and walls and the type of ventilation and heating (p < 0.05).