Capturing radon on tobacco smoke

Visa enkel post
dc.contributor.authorSanden, Magnus
dc.contributor.departmentChalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för mikroteknologi och nanovetenskapsv
dc.contributor.departmentChalmers University of Technology / Department of Microtechnology and Nanoscienceen
dc.date.accessioned2019-07-03T12:39:49Z
dc.date.available2019-07-03T12:39:49Z
dc.date.issued2011
dc.description.abstractRadon is one of the largest causes for lung cancer in the world. In fact, it is second only to smoking. It has been observed that tobacco smoking increases the risks of radon-induced lung cancer, but there does not appear to be any theory that quantitatively describes why this is. This thesis is a study of a possible reason for this increase in mortality. I have investigated if and how radon atoms adsorb onto some molecules present in tobacco smoke and other types of smoke. My study can therefore also help to develop an understanding of possible radon-associated health effects that may follow from enjoying an open replace. If radon does adsorb onto the smoke it may increase the likelihood of these radioactive atoms decaying in the lungs and depositing their daughter nuclei there. Most of the daughter nuclei are radioactive and of them at least lead is also toxic. The investigation was done through electronic structure calculations using density functional theory. I have chosen a non-empirical method because there are not many experiments on radon interactions. The van der Waals density functional was used to account for the van der Waals interactions. Adsorbtions of between 70 meV and 156 meV were found on all investigated molecules from the smoke. Large polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons gave the strongest adsorbtion. In a trend study with different noble gas atoms, bigger atoms adsorbed more strongly, including radon which adsorbed most strongly. The thesis includes an overview of the theory behind the density functional theory used in the calculations.
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12380/146547
dc.language.isoeng
dc.setspec.uppsokPhysicsChemistryMaths
dc.subjectGrundläggande vetenskaper
dc.subjectHållbar utveckling
dc.subjectLivsvetenskaper
dc.subjectInnovation och entreprenörskap (nyttiggörande)
dc.subjectMaterialvetenskap
dc.subjectNanovetenskap och nanoteknik
dc.subjectBuilding Futures
dc.subjectFysik
dc.subjectKärnfysik
dc.subjectAtom- och molekylfysik och optik
dc.subjectElektronstruktur
dc.subjectBasic Sciences
dc.subjectSustainable Development
dc.subjectLife Science
dc.subjectInnovation & Entrepreneurship
dc.subjectMaterials Science
dc.subjectNanoscience & Nanotechnology
dc.subjectBuilding Futures
dc.subjectPhysical Sciences
dc.subjectNuclear physics
dc.subjectAtom and Molecular Physics and Optics
dc.subjectElectronic structure
dc.titleCapturing radon on tobacco smoke
dc.type.degreeExamensarbete för masterexamensv
dc.type.degreeMaster Thesisen
dc.type.uppsokH
Ladda ner
Original bundle
Visar 1 - 1 av 1
Bild (thumbnail)
Namn:
146547.pdf
Storlek:
6.94 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Beskrivning:
Fulltext
Ladda ner
Samling
Examensarbeten för masterexamen