Relationship among short- and long-term radon measurements within dwellings: Influence of radon concentrations

Journal Article · Fri Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993 · Health Physics; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-199310000-00003· OSTI ID:5838502

Klotz, J B; Schoenberg, J B; Wilcox, H B ^[1]

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1. New Jersey Department of Health, Trenton (United States)

As part of a retrospective epidemiologic study of lung cancer in women, alpha-track and charcoal canister radon measurements were made in a sample of New Jersey residences. The alpha-track measurements were designed to yield estimates of annual average exposures of dwelling occupants, while charcoal canister measurements were designed to yield worst case concentrations for screening purposes. The year-long living area and basement screening measurements had geometric means of 19 Bq m-3 (0.52 pCi L-1) and 56 Bq m-3 (1.5 pCi L-1), respectively. Measurements of radon gas with different detectors and on different floors were compared to each other within residences. Ratios of screening to annual average results became more extreme as the measured concentrations increased; the mean ratio of basement canisters to year-long living area alpha-track detectors was 5.6 vs. 2.7 for houses that screened above and below 150 Bq m-3 (4 pCi L-1), respectively. Although the residence sample from which these data were drawn is not necessarily representative of either state or national housing stock, these observations, if verified, may have important implications for procedures and decision strategies designed to reduce individual and population exposures to radon.

• OSTI ID: 5838502
• Journal Information: Health Physics; (United States), Journal Name: Health Physics; (United States) Vol. 65:4; ISSN HLTPAO; ISSN 0017-9078
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560101* -- Biomedical Sciences
Applied Studies-- Radiation Effects-- Dosimetry & Monitoring-- (1992-)
61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY
ADSORBENTS
AIR POLLUTION
ALPHA DOSIMETRY
ANIMALS
BUILDINGS
CHARCOAL
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DOSIMETRY
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
EMANOMETERS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
FEMALES
FLUIDS
GASES
HOUSES
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
MAMMALS
MAN
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NEW JERSEY
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
POLLUTION
PRIMATES
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADON
RARE GASES
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
TIME DEPENDENCE
USA
VERTEBRATES
WOMEN