Variation of radon sources and indoor radon along the southwestern edge of the Canadian shield

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Environment International; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0160-4120(89)90038-X· OSTI ID:6613980

Steck, D J ^[1]

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1. Saint John's Univ., Collegeville, MN (USA)

Radon source and indoor radon concentrations were measured in 240 homes. Waterborne radon concentrations ranged from 0.4 to 360 kBq/m{sup 3}, with a geometric mean value of 8.6 kBq/m{sup 3} (230 pCi/L). Dry soil samples showed an average radon emanation of 16 Bq/kg (0.43 pCi/g) and an average radium content of 26 Bq/kg (0.7 pCi/g). In situ, surface soilborne {sup 214}Bi concentrations ranged from 5 to 50 Bq/kg. Yearly average, indoor airborne radon concentrations ranged from 7 to 3800 Bq/m{sup 3} (0.2 to 103 pCi/L) and varied significantly by season and by compartment. Radon concentrations in living spaces ranged from 7 to 2100 Bq/m{sup 3}, with an average value of 130 Bq/m{sup 3} (3.6 pCi/L) and a geometric mean of 100 Bq/m{sup 3} (2.7 pCi/L). Source and airborne radon concentrations are best described by log-normal distributions. Localized lusters of houses showed significant variation in source and airborne radon concentrations. Regional and geological clusters showed no significant variation in airborne radon, but did evidence some significant variation in source concentrations. Linear regression analysis of airborne radon in below-ground compartments and radon sources indicated significant correlation for emanative radon at individual sites, local clusters, and regional clusters and for {sup 241}Bi concentrations in local clusters.

• OSTI ID: 6613980
• Journal Information: Environment International; (USA), Journal Name: Environment International; (USA) Vol. 15:1-6; ISSN 0160-4120; ISSN ENVID
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540130* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
540230 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
540330 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AIR POLLUTION
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BISMUTH 214
BISMUTH ISOTOPES
BUILDINGS
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FLUIDS
GASES
HEAVY NUCLEI
HOUSES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
ISOTOPES
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICS
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
MONITORING
NONMETALS
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION SOURCES
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
RADON
RARE GASES
REGRESSION ANALYSIS
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
SOILS
STATISTICS
VENTILATION
WATER