title: Comparative survey of outdoor, residential and workplace radon concentrations.
abstract: This study investigated radon concentrations in above-ground (i.e. first floor) workplace in Missouri and compared them with above-ground radon concentrations in nearby homes and outdoor locations. This study also examined the potential utility of using home and outdoor radon concentrations to predict the radon concentration at a nearby workplace (e.g. county agencies and schools). Even though workplace radon concentrations were not statistically different from home radon concentrations, the radon concentration at a particular home, or outdoor location, was a poor predictor of the radon concentration at a nearby workplace. Overall, 9.6 and 9.9 % of homes and workplace, respectively, exhibited radon concentrations of ≥148 Bq m(-3). Because of the percentage of workplace with elevated radon concentrations, the results suggest that additional surveys of workplace radon concentrations are needed, especially in areas of high radon potential, to assess the contribution of workplace radon exposure to an individual's overall radon exposure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, S327 CPHB, 145 N. Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Nirmalla
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Barros
authors.affiliation: Department of Geographical and Sustainability Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Dan W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Field
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, St. John's University, Collegeville, MN 56321, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Steck
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, S327 CPHB, 145 N. Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA bill-field@uiowa.edu.
authors.forename: R William
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Field
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000398:Air Pollution, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006798:Housing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008923:Missouri; D015233:Models, Statistical; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011886:Radon / Q000032:analysis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017132:Workplace / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D011886:Radon