Structural dependence of diurnal fluctuations of radon progeny in residential buildings

Journal Article · Wed Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1992 · Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/10473289.1992.10467006· OSTI ID:7015047

Sheets, R W ^[1]

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1. Southwest Missouri State Univ., Springfield, MO (United States)

Movement of radon progeny inside houses is a complex process that depends both on atmospheric conditions and on building structure. The indoor working level (WL) monitored in four houses of differing structures shows regular diurnal fluctuations related to solar warming of the atmosphere. In the two houses with full basements, radon is removed by indoor/outdoor pressure-driven airflow, and basement WL varies inversely with outdoor temperature. In the two houses with half basements open to crawl spaces, radon is drawn into the basement faster than it is removed, so that basement WL varies directly with outside temperature. Average WL's in basements are about twice as high as first floor WL's and as much as 18 times as high as outdoor WL's. Each house shows an individual pattern of radon progeny movement throughout the building.

• OSTI ID: 7015047
• Journal Information: Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association; (United States) Vol. 42:4; 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-)
AIR POLLUTION
BUILDINGS
DAILY VARIATIONS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FLUIDS
GASES
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
MASS TRANSFER
MONITORING
NONMETALS
POLLUTION
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
RADON
RARE GASES
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
VARIATIONS