Radon Measurement
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Transcript Radon Measurement
Radon 101 & Testing
Twa-le Abrahamson-Swan
Spokane Tribal Air Quality Department
509-626-4403
[email protected]
www.epa.gov/radon
Superfund Site: Midnite Uranium Mine
Contaminants: radionuclides and heavy metals in acid mine
drainage, radioactive decay, and particulate transport in air,
surface water, and groundwater.
In as soon as two years, millions of tons of contaminated
material will be moved using heavy equipment. A new
water treatment plant will be built. Remediation is
expected to take 8 to 10 years.
https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/wtn/WTNPortal/IndicatorPages/RadSmokeLC.aspx
What Is Radon –222 (radon)?
Radon is a gas
It is naturally occurring
You can not see or
smell it
It enters buildings from
the soil beneath them
Radon
3.8 days
Radium
1,600 years
Uranium
4.5 billion years
Things to know about radon
Naturally occurring Gas
Undetectable by human senses
◦ Colorless, Odorless, Tasteless
Radioactive
Does not chemically react
No static electrical charge. Will not adhere to
other atoms or surfaces.
Average Contributions From Radon
Sources In U.S. Homes
Water
< 1%
Emanation
2 - 5%
Soil Gas
85 - 90%
Diffusion
1 - 4%
Radium Containing Soil
The movement of
soil gas into a home
is the predominant
entry route.
These are averages
- a particular home
can be different!
Radon Gas Spatial Distribution
<5
Radon enters from beneath
foundation and travels
upward.
5-6
◦ Diluted with outdoor air
infiltrating building
10
If radon is less than 4 pCi/L
in lower level, one can say
with reasonable confidence
that upper floors are also
less than 4 pCi/L.
Radon sources
Sources
Curies Per Year
Emanation: Soil
2,000,000,000
Ground Water
500,000,000
Emanation: Oceans
30,000,000
Phosphate Residues
3,000,000
Uranium Tailings Piles
2,000,000
Coal Residues
20,000
Natural Gas
10,000
Coal Combustion
900
Human Exhalation
10
Why are we concerned about radon?
Radon is a known carcinogen, in the highest
ranking category with tobacco products
U.S. SURGEON GENERAL HEALTH
ADVISORY
“Indoor radon is the second-leading cause of
lung cancer in the United States and breathing it
over prolonged periods can present a significant
health risk to families all over the country. It’s
important to know that this threat is completely
preventable. Radon can be detected with a
simple test and fixed through well-established
venting techniques.” – January 2005
Why Is Radon A Concern?
Radon decays into
radioactive particles
known as radon decay
products.
These particles are
easily inhaled and
deposited in the lungs
where they can damage
sensitive lung tissue.
Radon Decay Products
Radon
Radon
What happens when radon is inhaled?
Alpha
Decay
4He
Nucleus Ejected from
222Rn Nucleus
+
+
+
+
+
+
+2
+
+
+
Radon - 222
4He
+ 218Po
What Happens When Radon Decay
Products Are Inhaled?
Double Strand Breaks
Highly radioactive
particles adhere to
lung tissue, where
they can irradiate
sensitive cells.
Radiation can alter
the cells, increasing
the potential for
cancer.
Radon-222
4 day
,g
Polonium-218 3 min
,g
Lead-214
27 min
b,g
Bismuth-214 20 min
b,g
Polonium-214 0.2 ms
,g
Lead-210
218Po
and 214Po
deliver the
radiologically
significant dose to
the respiratory
epithelium.
22 yrs
b,g
Bismuth-210 5 day
b,g
Polonium-210 138 day
,g
Lead-206
Stable
Radon
Progeny
EPA & Surgeon General Recommend
Take action if a home is at or
above 4.0 pCi/L
(year long average)
4.0 pCi/L EPA ACTION LEVEL
Average indoor: 1.3 – 1.4 pCi/L
Average outdoor: 0.4 pCi/L
Testing for Radon
Initial short-term test (2-7 days)
◦ Closed house conditions
One testing device
Place in lowest lived in part of house, ideally
bedroom, living room and most frequently
occupied rooms
Not a closet, bathroom, kitchen, storeroom,
garage, crawlspace, attic.
Follow-up test if results are ≥ 4 pCi/L
Purpose of Test Determines
Location
Lowest lived in
Lowest suitable for Occupancy
w/o Renovation
YES
YES
NO
• Test in livable
room.
• Keep away from
drafts and
moisture.
Radon Measurement Devices
Activated charcoal device
Electret Ion Chamber
Continuous Radon Monitor
Activated Charcoal Devices
Measures radon
Used by professionals and homeowners
Different devices have different optimal
deployment periods.
Requires no power to operate.
In small container (paper, metal or plastic)
containing activated charcoal.
Can only be read in the lab, not in the
field.
Activated Charcoal Device
Examples
For short-term tests
Must be analyzed within 6 days
Advantages
Compact, convenient and
economical
Can be used for 48-hour
test
Can be easily mailed to lab
for analysis
Passive, does not require
power and silent
Quick and accurate analysis
Disadvantages
Limited to short-term
sampling
If radon peaks and valleys are
dramatic, the results validity is
questioned because of a
possible bias over the last 12
hours.
Provides no indication of
changes in radon during
measurement.
Tampering detection difficult.
Activated Charcoal Devices
Electret Ion Chamber (E-Perm)
Short-term and long-term measurements
2 days-1 year, dependent upon:
◦ Configuration
◦ Type of disk used
◦ Anticipated radon concentration
Measuring Electret Voltages
Electrets are pre-charged by
manufacturer.
Electret voltages are measured before and
after deployment.
Reported radon is a function of:
Voltage drop (Approximate 2 volts drop per day
per pCi/L)
Advantages
Short-term and long-term
measurements
Electret can be re-used
until voltage falls below the
desired operating voltage
for the device used (200
volts)
Can be recharged by
manufacturer ($30)
Disadvantages
Sensitive to external
gamma radiation.
Correction needed.
Sensitive to altitude
changes. Correction
needed.
Can be damaged by
touching surface, surface
contamination or impact.
Pre/post voltages must be
measured at the same
temperature.
Electret Ion Chambers
Continuous Radon Monitors
Sun Nuclear (Solid State Silicon Detector)
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
Impacts from alpha particles are counted.
Data plotted and averaged
Relatively low efficiency
Provides continuous measurements
Used for diagnostics
Advantages
Exposure variable: 48 hrs to
many months
Relatively good precision
Can track hourly variations
Options to down load or
print on site
Can indicate tampering or
ventilation.
Disadvantages
Higher priced
Requires trained operator
Annual calibration
Bi-annual performance
tests.
Can only test one room at
a time.
Continuous Radon Monitors
Results from a CRM
Do It Yourself Test Kits
Radon Mitigation Training
Twa-le Abrahamson-Swan
[email protected]
(509) 626-4403
April 8, 2014 at the US House Appropriations Committee – testifying on
cuts to radon funding and services for Tribes and Environmental Justice
Communities.
http://docs.house.gov/meetings/AP/AP06/20140408/101853/HHRG-113AP06-Wstate-Abrahamson-SwanT-20140408.pdf