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Regional variation of indoor radon over three seasons
Author(s) -
Mushrush George W.,
Mose Douglas G.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.5620071104
Subject(s) - radon , environmental science , conventional pci , seasonality , spring (device) , hydrology (agriculture) , medicine , geology , mathematics , statistics , engineering , geotechnical engineering , mechanical engineering , physics , psychiatry , myocardial infarction , quantum mechanics
The levels of 222 Rn in homes located in Fairfax County, Virginia, and Montgomery County, Maryland were measured using alpha‐track detectors during three consecutive 3‐month seasonal intervals. Indoor radon can be related to the geological material under homes and to home construction. The indoor radon levels during winter were about twice as high as anticipated. Approximately 50% of the homes had winter indoor radon levels above 4 pCi/L, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's recommended “action” level. During spring, indoor radon levels showed a considerable drop, with approximately 35% of the homes above 4 pCi/L. Values in summer were even lower, with approximately 22% of the homes above 4 pCi/L.