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UNIVERSITY OF BUCHAREST
FACULTY OF PHYSICS Guest
2026-06-11 23:58 |
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Conference: Bucharest University Faculty of Physics 2026 Meeting
Section: Atmosphere and Earth Science; Environment Protection
Title:
A Comparative Study of Radon, Volatile Organic Compounds, and Carbon Dioxide Dynamics in Different Indoor Environments
Authors:
Gabriela Iorga (1,2), Victor Grigorov (1)
Affiliation:
1) University of Bucharest, Faculty of Chemistry, Regina Elisabeta 4-12, 030018 Bucuresti, Romania
2) University of Bucharest, Faculty of Physics, Atomistilor 405, 077125 Bucuresti-Magurele, Romania
E-mail
gabriela.iorga@g.unibuc.ro
Keywords:
indoor pollution, Rn, VOC, CO2
Abstract:
Indoor exposure to naturally occurring radioactive gases and chemically reactive airborne pollutants represents an important component of indoor environmental quality assessment, particularly in educational buildings characterized by dynamic occupancy and variable ventilation conditions. This study presents a comparative investigation of indoor Radon (Rn), total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOCs), and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) dynamics in some student rooms monitored during independent measurement campaigns conducted under different seasonal and operational conditions. The selected rooms differ in terms of room volume, ventilation regime, occupancy capacity, and actual student presence. The measurement campaigns were performed using commercial Airthings multi-parameter monitors. Radon activity concentration was recorded with hourly resolution, while TVOC and CO2 concentrations were monitored at 10-minute intervals. Simultaneously, indoor air temperature, relative humidity, and atmospheric pressure were measured. The results revealed substantial temporal and spatial variability among the investigated environments, with diurnal and occupancy-dependent patterns. Radon concentrations showed relatively slow temporal evolution and accumulation behavior, mainly governed by ventilation efficiency, pressure fluctuations, and structural characteristics of the rooms. In contrast, TVOC and CO2 concentrations exhibited faster short-term variations, strongly associated with occupancy density, metabolic emissions, indoor activities, and ventilation events. Comparative time-series and correlation analyses indicated that although all three parameters responded to changes in air exchange conditions, their characteristic response times and dominant driving factors differed significantly.
Acknowledgement:
The authors thank to Ing. D. Negreanu for lending us two monitors used during the campaign at the historic UB Palace building
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