Predicting New Hampshire Indoor Radon Concentrations from geologic information and other covariates

Journal Article · Fri May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1998 · Environmental Geology (Berlin)

OSTI ID:1009823

Apte, M G; Price, P N; Nero, A V; Revzan, K L

Generalized geologic province information and data on house construction were used to predict indoor radon concentrations in New Hampshire (NH). A mixed-effects regression model was used to predict the geometric mean (GM) short-term radon concentrations in 259 NH towns. Bayesian methods were used to avoid over-fitting and to minimize the effects of small sample variation within towns. Data from a random survey of short-term radon measurements, individual residence building characteristics, along with geologic unit information, and average surface radium concentration by town, were variables used in the model. Predicted town GM short-term indoor radon concentrations for detached houses with usable basements range from 34 Bq/m{sup 3} (1 pCi/l) to 558 Bq/m{sup 3} (15 pCi/l), with uncertainties of about 30%. A geologic province consisting of glacial deposits and marine sediments, was associated with significantly elevated radon levels, after adjustment for radium concentration, and building type. Validation and interpretation of results are discussed.

• Research Organization: Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: Environmental Energy Technologies Division
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-05CH11231
• OSTI ID: 1009823
• Report Number(s): LBNL-38961
• Journal Information: Environmental Geology (Berlin), Journal Name: Environmental Geology (Berlin) Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 37; ISSN 0943-0105; ISSN ENGOE9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BASEMENTS
CONSTRUCTION
INDOORS
NEW HAMPSHIRE
RADIUM
RADON
SEDIMENTS
VALIDATION