Comparison of radon and radon-daughter grab samples obtained during the winter and summer. [UMTRA]

Technical Report · Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:6350949

Karp, K E

The Technical Measurements Center (TMC), under the auspices of the US Department of Energy (DOE) Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action (UMTRA) program, is investigating short-term methods for estimating annual average indoor radon-daughter concentrations (RDC). A field study at 40 sample locations in 26 residential structures in Grand Junction, Colorado, was conducted once in the winter and once in the summer. The short-term methods investigated as part of this study include ten-minute radon and radon-daughter grab sampling and hourly RDC measurements. The results of the field study indicate that ten-minute radon grab samples from basement locations are reproducible over different seasons during controlled sampling conditions. Nonbasement radon and RDC grab samples are highly variable even when the use of the location by the occupant is controlled and the ventilation rate is restricted. The grab sampling was performed under controlled occupied conditions. These results confirm that a short-term radon or RDC measurement in a nonbasement location in a house is not a standardized measurement that can be used to infer an annual average concentration. The hourly RDC measurements were performed under three sets of conditions over a 72-hour period. The three sets of conditions were uncontrolled occupied, controlled occupied, and controlled unoccupied. These results indicate that it is not necessary to relocate the occupants during the time of grab sampling. 8 refs., 8 figs., 10 tabs.

• Research Organization: UNC Geotech, Grand Junction, CO (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-86ID12584
• OSTI ID: 6350949
• Report Number(s): DOE/ID/12584-7; UNC/GJ-29(TMC); ON: DE87013847
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products. Original copy available until stock is exhausted
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
DAUGHTER PRODUCTS
RADIATION MONITORING
RADON
HOUSES
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
REMEDIAL ACTION
SAMPLE PREPARATION
SAMPLING
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
AIR POLLUTION
BUILDINGS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
GASES
ISOTOPES
MONITORING
NONMETALS
POLLUTION
RARE GASES
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
VARIATIONS
054000* - Nuclear Fuels- Health & Safety
510300 - Environment
Terrestrial- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)