Determination of the Radon levels in Berat Region

Indoor radon studies have been carried out in some dwellings of Berat district, Albania, using CR-39 type plastic track detectors for three months exposure. Berat, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008, comprise a unique style of architecture with influences from several civilizations that have managed to coexist for centuries throughout the history. The study has been undertaken for the purpose of health risk assessments. The people are exposed to it for a long period of time in inner environments; radon may cause cancer in several organs but mainly in the lungs. The risk varies depending on where you live, the local underlying rocks and regional geology. The measurements of this study are performed during the winter and spring season. The indoor radon concentrations are found to vary from 59 to 150 Bq/m(3). A good correlation is obtained between uranium concentration and radon exhalation in the soil. The annual average radon concentration at 90% of the values found are below the reference level recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection.