A detailed evaluation of the individual health benefits arising in a domestic property following radon remediation--a case-study in Northamptonshire, U.K.
Radon gas occurs naturally in the environment with variable distribution, concentrating sufficiently in the built environment in some areas to pose a public health risk. Radon levels can be successfully reduced in affected buildings, and large-scale remediation programmes have been justified in terms of accrued costs and benefits. We present results from a house where radon levels in the main living-room and master bedroom were monitored on an hourly basis over extended periods before and after radon remediation by sub-slab depressurisation. These results were combined with results from a recent occupancy survey to estimate the health impact on occupants spending varying times in the home. Prior to remediation, mean hourly radon exposure is moderately linearly correlated (R(2)=0.66-0.78) with time spent in the house. Following remediation, correlation is significantly enhanced (R(2)=0.91-0.95), but the exposure reduction of an occupant following remediation is less than that predicted using the NRPB protocol.
Denman
A R
AR
Medical Physics Department, Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust, Cliftonville, Northampton NN1 5BD, UK. tony.denman@northampton.ac.uk
Briggs
D J
DJ
Allison
C C
CC
Groves-Kirkby
C J
CJ
Phillips
P S
PS
Crockett
R G M
RG
D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D004782:Environmental Health / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation; D006801:Humans; D011886:Radon / Q000032:analysis*; D006113:United Kingdom
D011886:Radon