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Indoor Air Quality
Published in Dorothy Gerring, Renewable Energy Systems for Building Designers, 2023
Radon is a radioactive gas that is naturally occurring in soil and water all over the world. According to WHO, no studies have yet linked radon in drinking water with increased risks of stomach cancer. However, radon is released from the water into indoor air. WHO recommends the use of granular activated carbon filters or aeration by the water distribution system to reduce radon concentration.
Air-Related Environmental Regulations
Published in Daniel T. Rogers, Environmental Compliance Handbook, 2023
According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR 2021), homes with radon concentrations greater than the USEPA recommended level, which is 4 picocuries/Liter (pCi/L) of radon in air, should undergo some radon abatement to lower concentrations. Abatement usually consists of atmospheric venting the basement or the lowest level within a residence or building so that concentrations maintain a concentration below the recommended value (USEPA 2021n).
Chemistry of Contaminants
Published in Daniel T. Rogers, Environmental Compliance Handbook, 2023
Radioactive compounds occur naturally, with the most common being radon. Radon is produced from the decay of uranium (ATSDR 2008d) and is present in air, water, and soil. Radon may buildup in basements, especially if cracks exist, or other subsurface structures located above natural deposits having higher relative uranium levels. The half-life of radon is approximately 4 days (ATSDR 2008d). Most of the human exposure attributed to other radioactive compounds results from medical devices, diagnostic treatments, testing equipment such as x-ray machines, and cancer therapy (Kathren 1991; ATSDR 2000).
Seismic Behavior of an Innovative System for Preventing Gas Leakage through Reinforced Concrete Shear Walls of Nuclear Facilities
Published in Journal of Earthquake Engineering, 2023
The transition of Radon gas is one of the most significant research topics related to soil permeability. Radon gas is a radioactive gas that cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted, and can be found in many buildings; however, problem levels vary from area to area. Radon comes from the natural breakdown of Uranium that is found nearly in all soils and infiltrate to buildings through either air and/or water supplies. Testing is the only way to check if Radon exists in a building or not. Radon migrates upwards from its source, entering buildings wherever the bottom is imperfectly sealed, for example, through cracks in a concrete basement wall or slab-on-grade. Several methods were developed for soil gas permeability related to Radon gas detection, including single probe measurements (Font and Baixeras 2003), dual probe measurements (Garbesi et al. 1993), and derivation of permeability from other parameters, water permeability (Rogers and Nielson 1991), grain size analysis (Barnet et al. 2008; Neznal et al. 1997). Majority of published work focused on direct measurements of gas permeability using pressure systems. Three prototypes for direct measurements have been prepared with the main goal, to try to avoid or decrease the disadvantages of Radon-JOK equipment (Chen et al. 2008; Nezanal and Neznal 2006).
Radon sampling methodologies: A case for accurate, accessible measurements using household instruments
Published in Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, 2023
Rebecca A. Stern, Joy Lawrence, Jack M. Wolfson, Longxiang Li, Petros Koutrakis
Exposure to radon – including 222Rn, 220Rn, and their progeny – is the leading cause of lung cancer besides smoking (Copes and Scott 2007; US Environmental Protection Agency 2009) and the largest cause of radiation exposure in the U.S. outside of medical procedures (National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements 1987). 222Rn is a colorless and odorless radioactive gas that decays (half-life 3.8 days) into radiation-emitting products (Porstendorfer and Reineking 1999; Porstendörfer 1994). 220Rn is even shorter lived (half-life 55 seconds) (Kanse et al. 2013). Radon enters homes by emission from soil and materials into the air through cracks and joints in the building, and it can accumulate to high concentrations in areas with reduced ventilation, particularly basements (Kearfott 1989; Li et al. 2022; Nazaroff 1992; White et al. 1992).
Low-cost radon monitoring with validation by a reference instrument
Published in Instrumentation Science & Technology, 2023
Mbarndouka Taamté Jacob, Koyang François, Gondji Dieu Souffit, Oumar Bobbo Modibo, Hamadou Yerima Abba, Kountchou Noubé Michaux, Shinji Tokonami
Radon concentration in the air of a building depends on the characteristics of the soil, building material, and on the architectural characteristics and the ventilation rate.[15] It also varies according to the habits of its occupants in terms of ventilation and heating. The building parts which are directly in contact with the ground (cellar, crawl space, floors of the lowest level) are those through which radon enters the building before reaching the occupied rooms. The infiltration of radon into buildings, basements and crawl spaces is facilitated by the presence of cracks and the passage of pipes through slabs and floors.[16] The presence of radon in a room thus varies according to the opening of the doors and windows; the concentration increases if the building is confined and poorly ventilated.[17]