Effect of soil parameters on radon entry into a building by means of the transrad numerical model.
High indoor radon concentration means an increased risk of developing lung cancer. When high radon levels are present in a dwelling, the major source is normally the soil. Therefore, it is useful to know the radon concentration field in the soil underneath a building. A steady-state two-dimensional radon transport model has been used to calculate the effect of a reference building on the soil radon concentration, and the influence of soil parameters on radon entry through a single crack in the basement. Both advective and diffusive flows are considered. Away from the building, the well-known undisturbed soil radon concentration profile has been obtained, while under the house the radon level is increased. A variability analysis around the reference site has shown that the most relevant soil parameters on the radon flux at the top of the crack are, in this case, effective diffusion coefficient, soil gas-permeability and deep soil radon concentration.
Albarracín
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Grup de Física de les Radiacions, Edifici Cc Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.
Font
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Amgarou
K
K
Domingo
C
C
Fernández
F
F
Baixeras
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C
D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor; D004058:Diffusion; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011886:Radon; D012987:Soil; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive
D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive; D012987:Soil; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive; D011886:Radon