Radon-222 and progeny measurements in "typical" East Tennessee residences.
Modified Wrenn chambers for continuous monitoring of 222Rn, featuring several improvements including a computer-assisted electronics package, have been developed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. A field test of these instruments was conducted by placing them in the homes of staff members. Field testing was conducted in seven houses for periods ranging from 4 to 18 days. During this testing period, the 222Rn concentration in these houses was monitored continuously. Radon-222 concentrations in the basements of three of the seven houses were in excess of 100 Bq/m3 almost continuously. One residence had instantaneous concentrations approaching 1000 Bq/m3. Samples of soil and building materials from these residences indicated that 226Ra concentrations were in the normal range (40 Bq/kg). Radon progeny measurements were made in five of these houses on a "typical" day. Results obtained were as follows: for basements, a geometric mean of 0.016 WL (geometric S.D. of 2.9); for upper floors a geometric mean of 0.014 WL (geometric S.D. of 2.9). This paper summarizes the results obtained in the field test.
D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis; D001729:Bismuth / Q000032:analysis; D003252:Construction Materials; D006798:Housing; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis; D011059:Polonium / Q000032:analysis; D011848:Radioactive Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D011886:Radon / Q000032:analysis*; D017687:Radon Daughters; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis; D013714:Tennessee
D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive; D011848:Radioactive Pollutants; D017687:Radon Daughters; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive; D007854:Lead; D011059:Polonium; D011886:Radon; D001729:Bismuth