Comparison of Predicted and Measured Variations of Indoor Radon Concentration

1988 ◽  
Vol 24 (1-4) ◽  
pp. 231-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Arvela ◽  
A. Voutilainen ◽  
I. Mäkeläinen ◽  
O. Castrén ◽  
K. Winqvist
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Variations ◽  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Pressure Difference ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
Entry Rate ◽  
Concrete Walls ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Air Infiltration ◽  
Concentration Ratios

Abstract Prediction of the variations of indoor radon concentration were calculated using a model relating indoor radon concentration to radon entry rate, air infiltration and meteorological factors. These calculated variations have been compared with seasonal variations of 33 houses during 1-4 years, with winter-summer concentration ratios of 300 houses and the measured dirunal variation. In houses with a slab in ground contact the measured seasonal variations are quite often in agreement with variations predicted for nearly pure pressure difference driven flow. The contribution of a diffusion source is significant in houses with large porous concrete walls against the ground. Air flow due to seasonally variable thermal convection within eskers strongly affects the seasonal variations within houses located thereon. Measured and predicted winter-summer concentration ratios demonstrate that, on average, the ratio is a function of radon concentration. The ratio increases with increasing winter concentration. According to the model the diurnal maximum caused by a pressure difference driven flow occurs in the morning, a finding which is in agreement with the measurements. The model presented can be used for differentiating between factors affecting radon entry into houses.

An approach to predicting indoor radon concentration based on depressurisation measurements

2020 ◽  
pp. 1420326X2092474
Author(s):  
James A McGrath ◽  
Miriam A Byrne
Keyword(s):  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Power Laws ◽  
Rate Coefficients ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
Entry Rate ◽  
Energy Retrofit ◽  
Building Characteristics ◽  
Passive Measurements ◽  
Radon Concentrations

Exposure to radon is recognised as the second-leading cause of lung cancer after tobacco smoke. The passive measurements typically take up to three months to be representative of the annual radon concentration. A recently developed approach depressurises a dwelling to heighten the convective radon flux determining radon entry rate coefficients. The current study characterises the ventilation status, air tightness and eight selected hourly air change rates measurements, of a sample of naturally ventilated dwellings in Ireland. The household averaged air change rate ranged from 0.28 to 1.87 h−1 and airtightness measurements ranged from 4.830 to 9.423 m3 h−1 m−2 @ 50 Pa, depending on the building characteristics. The experimentally obtained values were used to parameterise a computational model for these selected dwellings and to predict radon concentrations. The radon entry rate power laws ranged from 0.18ΔP0.97 to 1.28ΔP1.18 Bq s−1. Probabilistic functions were generated based on the experimental data and predicted radon concentrations were within one standard deviation of the experimentally measured values in three out of four cases. The data generated can be used in modelling simulations to predict indoor radon concentrations based on local meteorological conditions, building characteristics, ventilation guidelines and energy-retrofit measurements.

Building-specific factors affecting indoor radon concentration variations in different regions in Bulgaria

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1151-1161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kremena Ivanova ◽  
Zdenka Stojanovska ◽  
Martina Tsenova ◽  
Bistra Kunovska
Keyword(s):  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Specific Factors

A Tentative Protocol for Measurement of Radon Availability from the Ground

1988 ◽  
Vol 24 (1-4) ◽  
pp. 79-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.B. Tanner
Keyword(s):  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Pressure Difference ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
Migration Distance ◽  
Basement Structure ◽  
Upward Migration ◽  
Water Fraction ◽  
Point To Point ◽  
Soil Pores

Abstract A procedure is being tested in order to determine its suitability for assessing the intrinsic ability of the ground at a particular site to supply 222Rn to a basement structure to be built on the site. Soil gas is sucked from a borehole probe through an alpha scintillation chamber and flow meter by a pump. The permeability of the soil is calculated from the flow rate and the pressure difference between the atmosphere and the borehole at the intake point. The diffusion coefficient is estimated from the water fraction in the soil pores. The upward migration distance for radon in such soil during one mean life is computed from an arbitrary steady pressure difference. This mean migration distance, multiplied by the measured radon concentration, gives the 'radon availability number'. Measurements at sites of known indoor radon concentration suggest that numbers below 2 kBq.m-2 indicate litte chance of elevated indoor radon and above 20 kBq.m-2 indicate that elevated indoor radon is likely. The range of uncertainty and the point-to-point and seasonal variations to be expected are under investigation.

Distribution characteristics on indoor radon concentration of multiple-use facilities in Gwangju area

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min-jin Kim ◽  
Sang-su An ◽  
Min-cheol Cho ◽  
Se-il Park ◽  
Jong-min Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Distribution Characteristics ◽  
Multiple Use ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration

scholarly journals A new approach to radon temporal correction factor based on active environmental monitoring devices

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Dicu ◽  
B. D. Burghele ◽  
M. Botoş ◽  
A. Cucoș ◽  
G. Dobrei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Smart Device ◽  
Correction Factors ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
Radon Measurements ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Monitoring Devices ◽  
Temporal Correction

AbstractThe present study aims to identify novel means of increasing the accuracy of the estimated annual indoor radon concentration based on the application of temporal correction factors to short-term radon measurements. The necessity of accurate and more reliable temporal correction factors is in high demand, in the present age of speed. In this sense, radon measurements were continuously carried out, using a newly developed smart device accompanied by CR-39 detectors, for one full year, in 71 residential buildings located in 5 Romanian cities. The coefficient of variation for the temporal correction factors calculated for combinations between the start month and the duration of the measurement presented a low value (less than 10%) for measurements longer than 7 months, while a variability close to 20% can be reached by measurements of up to 4 months. Results obtained by generalized estimating equations indicate that average temporal correction factors are positively associated with CO2 ratio, as well as the interaction between this parameter and the month in which the measurement took place. The impact of the indoor-outdoor temperature differences was statistically insignificant. The obtained results could represent a reference point in the elaboration of new strategies for calculating the temporal correction factors and, consequently, the reduction of the uncertainties related to the estimation of the annual indoor radon concentration.

Indoor radon concentration in the rural dwellings of Chhattisgarh state (India)

2006 ◽  
Vol 119 (1-4) ◽  
pp. 434-437 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. S. K. Khokhar ◽  
R. S. Kher ◽  
V. B. Rathore ◽  
T. V. Ramachandran
Keyword(s):  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration

scholarly journals Seasonal indoor radon studies in buildings of Accra Metropolis of Greater Accra region of Ghana

2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 199-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Otoo ◽  
E.O. Darko ◽  
M. Garavaglia ◽  
C. Giovani ◽  
S. Pividore ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Strong Positive Correlation ◽  
Cumulative Frequency Distribution ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
Kolmogorov Smirnov ◽  
Greater Accra Region ◽  
Action Levels

Indoor radon concentration for annual, rainy and dry season have been studied in 228 buildings which includes bedroom, kitchen, sitting room, laboratories and offices in Accra metropolis of Greater Accra of Ghana. The passive radon CR-39 SSNTD was used for this study. The cumulative frequency distribution, normalizing Q-Q plots, Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk statistical test showed that the result of both workplaces and dwellings are not normally distributed. The strong positive correlation between the two seasons occurred at 95% confidence level with 2 tailed. The rainy season recorded highest coefficient variation of r2 = 0.982. Statistical analysis of median (39.3), AM (103.4), GM (57.9) and GSD (3.2) for rainy season were greater than that of the dry season of median (26.9), AM (88.2), GM (49.2) and GSD (2.8) respectively. Rainy season was found to contain high radon concentrations than the dry season for all the studied locations. In general, workplace had radon concentration far greater than dwellings. The results obtained from this study ranged between 13.6 to 533.7 Bq/m3, out of which 9.6%, 12.7% and 3.5% were found to be greater than action levels proposed by WHO, EC and ICRP.

scholarly journals Long-Term Impacts of Weather Conditions on Indoor Radon Concentration Measurements in Switzerland

Atmosphere ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 92
Author(s):  
Joan Frédéric Rey ◽  
Stéphane Goyette ◽  
Mauro Gandolla ◽  
Martha Palacios ◽  
Fabio Barazza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Indoor Environments ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
Prone Area ◽  
Building Characteristics ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
Radon Measurements

Radon is a natural and radioactive gas that can accumulate in indoor environments. Indoor radon concentration (IRC) is influenced, among other factors, by meteorology, which is the subject of this paper. Weather parameters impact indoor radon levels and have already been investigated, but rarely in Switzerland. Moreover, there is a strong need for a better understanding of the radon behaviour inside buildings in Switzerland for public health concerns as Switzerland is a radon prone area. Based on long-term, continuous, and hourly radon measurements, radon distributions classified according to different weather event definitions were investigated and then compared at three different study sites in Western Switzerland. Outdoor temperature influences the most indoor radon, and it is globally anti-correlated. Wind influences indoor radon, but it strongly depends on intensity, direction, and building characteristics. Precipitation influences periodically indoor radon levels relatively to their intensity. Atmospheric pressure and relative humidity do not seem to be huge determinants on IRC. Our results are in line with previous findings and provide a vivid example in Western Switzerland. This paper underlines the different influence complexities of radon, and the need to communicate about it within the broader public and with construction professionals, to raise awareness.

scholarly journals Radon measurements with CR-39 track detectors at specific locations in Turkey

2004 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asiye Ulug ◽  
Melek Karabulut ◽  
Nilgün Celebi
Keyword(s):  
Radon Concentration ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Active Faults ◽  
Indoor Radon Concentration ◽  
Arithmetic Means ◽  
Radon Measurements ◽  
New Buildings ◽  
Main Factor ◽  
Ventilation Conditions ◽  
Radon Concentrations

Indoor radon concentration levels at three sites in Turkey were measured using CR-39 solid state nuclear track detectors. The annual mean of radon concentration was estimated on the basis of four quarter measurements at specific locations in Turkey. The measuring sites are on the active faults. The results of radon measurements are based on 280 measurements in doors. The annual arithmetic means of radon concentrations at three sites (Isparta Egirdir, and Yalvac) were found to be 164 Bqm?3, 124 Bqm?3, and 112 Bqm?3 respectively, ranging from 78 Bqm?3 to 279 Bqm?3. The in door radon concentrations were investigated with respect to the ventilation conditions and the age of buildings. The ventilation conditions were determined to be the main factor affecting the in door radon concentrations. The in door radon concentrations in the new buildings were higher than ones found in the old buildings.

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