The effects of altitude levels on 222Rn concentration in academic building at Universiti Malaysia Kelantan Jeli campus

Highly continuous exposure to Radon (222Rn) concentrations can affects human health and
causes lung cancer. This study aims to monitor 222Rn concentration at different altitude and to
investigate the correlation of 222Rn concentration with several environmental factors which are
temperature, humidity and pressure in indoor space. Lecture rooms known as BK 4 in the first floor
and BK 8 in the third floor of academic building at Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) Jeli Campus
were selected as the study areas. The total of 210 readings of indoor 222Rn concentrations data have
been collected using Radon Sentinel Model 1030. From the observation, the average of 222Rn
concentration in BK 4 and BK 8 range from 0.36 pCi/L to 0.73 pCi/L and 0.40 pCi/L to 0.93 pCi/L,
respectively. 222Rn concentration of BK 8; situated 14.4 meter above the ground level is higher than
BK 4 which is 4.8 meter from the ground level. Negative correlations were obtained between 222Rn
concentrations over pressure, temperature and humidity at BK 4. Meanwhile, 222Rn concentrations at
BK 8 have shown positive correlation over pressure and humidity, but negative correlation over
temperature.