U. S. EPA Office of Research and Development overview of current radon research

Technical Report · Thu Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991

OSTI ID:5812039

Dyess, T M; Osborne, M C

The paper gives an overview of current radon research being conducted by EPA. In 1984, EPA began a research program to develop and demonstrate radon mitigation alternatives. Since then, the program has evolved from an initially focus on houses with severely elevated radon levels in Boyertown (Pennsylvania) and Clinton (New Jersey) to the multi-faceted program currently concerned with reducing radon to near-ambient levels in existing houses, new houses, schools, and other large buildings. The program direction recognizes successes achieved by EPA and others in demonstrating mitigation options capable of reducing radon levels to below 4 pCi/L in most houses. However, these options: (1) fail to achieve the ambient radon goal established by the Indoor Radon Abatement Act of 1988; (2) are too expensive for general homeowner acceptance; and (3) have only limited development and demonstration for schools and other large complex structures. To address these needs, emphasis is being placed on research of low-radon-level houses, directed at low-cost solutions for lower radon level houses in order to have significant impact on the estimated 16,000 to 20,000 radon-induced lung cancer deaths each year.

• Research Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC (United States). Air and Energy Engineering Research Lab.
• OSTI ID: 5812039
• Report Number(s): PB-92-121250/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
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AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
BUILDINGS
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DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES
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POLLUTION CONTROL
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RADON
RARE GASES
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
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US EPA
US ORGANIZATIONS
USA