The use of computed radon entry rates to understand radon concentration in buildings

Journal Article · Tue Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Health Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-199402000-00008· OSTI ID:379199

Cavallo, A; Gadsby, K; Reddy, T A ^[1]

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1. Princeton Univ., NJ (United States)

The central role played by basement depressurization in drawing radon-contaminated soil gas into a structure has been demonstrated by calculating the radon entry rate from radon concentration and air infiltration measurements at different levels of basement depressurization in a single-family research house. The radon entry rate is found to be a linear function of basement depressurization in this house which indicates that the flow of soil gas into the structure is laminar. The radon entry rates calculated before and after using a mitigation procedure is shown to provide a better measure of the mitigation efficacy than the standard before and after mitigation radon measurements in a research house. In addition, an analysis of the possible flow characteristics of soil gas and uncontaminated air into a basement indicates that any attempt to predict long-term average radon exposure from short-term screening measurements will only be possible under severely restricted conditions. 22 refs., 4 figs., 1 tab.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: FG02-90ER61030
• OSTI ID: 379199
• Journal Information: Health Physics, Journal Name: Health Physics Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 66; ISSN HLTPAO; ISSN 0017-9078
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
66 PHYSICS
AIR FLOW
AIR INFILTRATION
BASEMENTS
CONCRETES
DEPRESSURIZATION
DIFFUSION
HOUSES
INDOOR AIR CONTAMINATION
MITIGATION
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIATION TRANSPORT
RADON 222
SOILS
VENTILATION