Thoron in the environment

Journal Article · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/10473289.1990.10466704· OSTI ID:6873214

Schery, S D ^[1]

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1. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro (USA)

Thoron ({sup 220}Rn), an isotope of the radon family, is produced in the earth's crust at a rate comparable to that of common radon ({sup 222}Rn). Thoron's average activity concentration in soil gas and ground-level outside air is comparable to that of radon. Recent data from Europe and the United States indicate that in terms of the energy of the alpha particle decays of thoron's progeny, its concentration in indoor air is significant, typically about half that due to radon progeny. This paper reviews current knowledge about thoron and its progeny in the outdoor and indoor environments and discusses issues involved in assessing whether or not it is significant indoor pollutant.

• OSTI ID: 6873214
• Journal Information: Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association; (USA) Vol. 40:4; ISSN JAWAE; ISSN 1047-3289
• 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-)
AIR POLLUTION
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
DAUGHTER PRODUCTS
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DOSES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
HEAVY NUCLEI
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
ISOTOPES
MASS TRANSFER
NUCLEI
POLLUTION
POLLUTION SOURCES
RADIATION DOSES
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
RADON 222
RADON ISOTOPES
SOILS