Comparison of Indoor Radon Reduction Effects Based on Apartment Housing Ventilation Methods

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Dear Editor/Journal Staff

Atmosphere

I have gone through the manuscript “Comparison of Indoor Radon Reduction Effects Based on Apartment Housing Ventilation Methods”. The subject of paper is interesting and fall within scope of the journal. Manuscript is also well written but it lacks scientific justification of results that needs to be improved. There are certain limitations of study that needs to be addressed before acceptance of the manuscript.  Following are comments that need to be addressed.

2. Methods

2.1. Study Target and Duration

Page# 2/12, resolution/quality Household structure needs to be improved.

2.2. Radon Measurement Device

Mention lower level of detection of device.

2.4. Analysis Method

Equation 1 and 2 are confusing,

Authors have not explained about parameter  , c₀ and

Delete one C, appearing on page #5/12 in the line #150.

3. Results

3.1. Radon Reduction from Each Natural Ventilation Conditions

Page#5/12 line# 161, 162 and 163:

“In Case 1, after natural ventilation, radon concentration decreased from 134.73 Bq m^-3 to 14.71 Bq m^-3 in the living room and from 163.29 Bq m-3 to 110.83 Bq m^-3 in the room, with high reduction rates of 89.08% and 93.37%, respectively”.

Radon reduction rates 89.08% and 93.37% does not seems accurate when calculated from equation 2. I think while calculating radon reduction rate if authors divide the radon concentration within room prior to the ventilation to the value obtained after applying ventilation strategy the above calculated values cannot be obtained.

In case 1 through 7, radon reductions through natural ventilation was carried out at slightly different timings, like in case 1 study started at 11:00 am and concluded at 7:00 pm in other cases viz., case 4, 5, 6 studies started at 1:00 pm and were concluded at 9:00 pm. My question is; if some windows were in contact with outside environment, than there is chance that outside meteorological parameters (pressure, wind direction, inside and outside humidity and temperature since study is conducted from day time to evening) affects the indoor radon concentration. Authors have not considered impact of these parameters on radon concentration. What was reason for not assessing effect of outside meteorological parameters on indoor radon concentrations keeping in view the scenario that window was open and in contact with outside environment.

Page#7/12, write unit used along with parameter on vertical axis of Figure 3.

4. Discussion

Since study has been carried out on 12^th floor of a newly constructed apartment building, and authors claim it could be considered that radon is commonly emitted from the soil in the housing facilities, which seems a bit difficult to accept. Usually radon concentration is high where houses are built directly on the ground and houses are in contact with the soil. I appreciate if author supplement their response against higher values of radon concentration (especially higher than 148 Bq m^-3) with identifying some more potential radon sources at 12^th floor of building that have cause such higher values of radon concentration.

There is need to justify why mechanical system was less effective as compared to natural ventilation system.

In current form of manuscript I recommend MAJOR revision

Author Response

Please see the attachment. 

I really appreciate your review.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Please find all my comments embedded in the manuscript.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Please see the attachment. 

I really appreciate your review.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Accept

Reviewer 2 Report

Improvements of the paper have been done.