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Potable water as a source of airborne /sup 222/Rn in US dwellings: a review and assessment

Journal Article · · Health Phys.; (United States)

Using a long-term-average, single-cell model and available data for U.S. housing, the concentration of /sup 222/Rn in indoor air due to the use of potable water is assessed. The ratio of the airborne /sup 222/Rn concentration to the concentration in water is represented by a lognormal distribution with geometric mean and geometric standard deviation of 0.65 X 10(-4) and 2.88, respectively, in fair agreement with the previously reported results of direct measurements of the ratio in 13 houses. By combining this result with data on /sup 222/Rn concentrations in U.S. water supplies, potable water is estimated to contribute an average of 24, 1.3, and 0.1 Bq m-3 to the airborne /sup 222/Rn concentration in residences served by private wells, public ground water, and surface water supplies, respectively.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley Lab., Berkeley
OSTI ID:
6599287
Journal Information:
Health Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: Health Phys.; (United States) Vol. 3; ISSN HLTPA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English