Comparison of radon hazard to inhabitants of the Augustów Plane sandr and inhabitants of the Suwałki region of fluvioglacial sands and gravels

In a region of two lithologic units: the Augustów Plane sandr and the Suwałki sands and fluvioglacial gravels, 134 measurements of radon concentrations in dwelling houses were performed. An integral method of solid state nuclear trace detectors (SSNTD) was used in the studies. Statistically significant differences in the radon concentrations in both geological units were obtained. The radon concentration arithmetic mean was 197 Bq m-3, geometric mean - 119 Bq m-3, median - 111 Bq m-3, the maximal value being 1225 Bq m-3 in the region of the Suwałki fluvioglacial sands and gravels. The Augustów Plane sandr revealed arithmetic mean of radon concentration equal to 123 Bq m-3, geometric mean – 80 Bq m-3, and median equal to 67 Bq m-3, maximal value 695 Bq m-3. The annual effective dose of the radon obtained by inhabitants of the Augustów Plane sandr is 1.7 mSv and for inhabitants of the Suwałki fluvioglacial sands and gravels it is 2.5 mSv.