Evaluation of Efficiency of Radon-Blocking Wallpaper for Improving Indoor Air Quality

Background: Managing indoor radon is important since it is a known carcinogen.Radon-blocking wallpaper can be a control measure for obstructing the penetration of the gas.Such wallpaper can be implemented in both new and existing buildings. Objectives:The study aimed to evaluate the radon mitigation efficiency of radon blocking wallpaper under various conditions and assess its long-term effectiveness.Methods: Radon concentrations in closed chambers were measured before and one month after the installation of radon-blocking wallpaper.Additionally, the impact of overlapping widths (single installation, 1, 5, and 10 cm) on blocking efficiency was tested in a closed chamber.In a simulated residential environment, radon concentrations were measured before, immediately upon, and six months after the installation of the radon-blocking wallpaper.Results: In the one-month experiment, radon concentration in the chamber with radon-blocking wallpaper was found to be lower than in the chamber without it.Overlap tests revealed that overlapping widths did not affect radon mitigation effectiveness.In the simulated residential environment, radon concentrations showed a reduction after the installation of the radon-blocking wallpaper.Six months after installation, the monitoring confirmed that radon concentrations remained well below the indoor radon standard. Conclusions:This study confirmed that radon-blocking wallpaper was an effective solution for reducing indoor radon concentrations.This study provided an important tool for radon management strategies in residential settings.