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DEVELOPMENT OF A LUMPED-PARAMETER MODEL OF INDOOR RADON CONCENTRATIONS
Citation:
Nielson, K., V. C. Rogers, AND R. Holt. DEVELOPMENT OF A LUMPED-PARAMETER MODEL OF INDOOR RADON CONCENTRATIONS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/R-94/201 (NTIS 95-142048), 1994.
Impact/Purpose:
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Description:
The report describes a simplified, lumped-parameter model to characterize indoor radon concentrations from data that are more readily available than those required for existing mathematical models. he lumped-parameter model was developed from numerous sensitivity analyses with the more detailed RAETRAD model and from analyses of trends from empirical data sets. he model analyses established radon dependence on soil parameters, house size, floor cracks and openings, and indoor air pressures. he empirical analyses estimated house air infiltration properties, concrete slab diffusion properties, sub-slab ventilation effectiveness, and floor crack areas. he lumped-parameter model was defined by simplifying these theoretical and empirical trends into a single equation. he equation expresses net soil-related indoor radon concentrations as a function of the sub-slab radon concentration, which defines the radon source strength, and a number of house parameters that characterize the radon entry and accumulation characteristics. he model was validated by comparison to radon measurements at the Florida Radon Research Program radon test cells, by comparisons with soil radon potential mapping calculations and by comparisons with indoor radon data at more than 60 houses.