Radon-daughter exposures in energy-efficient buildings
A radon concentration of 1 pCi/1 (37 Bq/m/sup 3/) appears to lie in the range that is typical for air inside US residential buildings. Moreover, some US residences have concentrations higher than 1 pCi/1, sometimes by an order of magnitude, implying significant individual risk to occupants. For typical radon daughter equilibrium ratios, this concentration corresponds to a radon daughter exposure rate of 0.2 working level months (WLM) per year. This exposure rate may account for a significant lung cancer incidence if data on lung cancers per unit exposure in miners are applicable to such low exposures. Reductions in air exchange rates may rise the typical exposure rate and even increase it to unacceptable levels in some cases. Measures that reduce energy use by reducing natural infiltration or mechanical ventilation in new or retrofit buildings are therefore undergoing severe scrutiny. Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory has performed measurements in buildings specifically designed to use energy efficiently or utilize solar heating. In many of these buildings radon concentrations appear to arise primarily from soil underlying the buildings. Measures to control higher levels, e.g., by mechanical ventilation with heat recuperation, appear to be economical. However, to evaluate energy-saving programs adequately requires a much more comprehensive characterization of radon sources (for example, by geographical area) and a much fuller understanding of the dynamics of radon and its daughters indoors than now exist.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 5675373
- Report Number(s):
- LBL-11052; CONF-800398-4; ON: DE82003711; TRN: 82-006736
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Specialist meeting on assessment of radon and daughter exposure and related biological effects, Rome, Italy, 3 Mar 1980
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BUILDINGS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
RADON
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
AIR QUALITY
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
DAUGHTER PRODUCTS
ENERGY CONSERVATION
HEALTH HAZARDS
RESIDENTIAL SECTOR
VENTILATION
AIR POLLUTION
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FLUIDS
GASES
HAZARDS
ISOTOPES
NONMETALS
POLLUTION
RARE GASES
500300* - Environment
Atmospheric- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
570000 - Health & Safety
560151 - Radiation Effects on Animals- Man