Record Display for the EPA National Library Catalog

RECORD NUMBER: 2 OF 8

Main Title Effect of Natural Ventilation on Radon and Radon Progeny Levels in Houses.
Author Cavallo, A. ; Gadsby, K. ; Reddy, T. A. ; Socolow, R. ;
CORP Author Princeton Univ., NJ. Center for Environmental Studies.;Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC. Air and Energy Engineering Research Lab.
Publisher 1991
Year Published 1991
Report Number EPA-R-817013; EPA/600/D-91/264;
Stock Number PB92-124148
Additional Subjects Radon ; Houses ; Indoor air pollution ; Ventilation ; Air pollution control ; Residential buildings ; Soils ; Basements ; Dilution ; Depressurization ; Stationary sources ; Natural ventilation
Holdings
Library Call Number Additional Info Location Last
Modified
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Status
NTIS  PB92-124148 Some EPA libraries have a fiche copy filed under the call number shown. 07/26/2022
Collation 11p
Abstract
The paper discusses the effect of natural ventilation on radon and radon progeny levels in houses. Contradicting the widely held assumption that ventilation is ineffective in reducing indoor radon concentrations, experiments in a research house have shown that the basement radon level can be reduced by a factor of 5 to 10 using only natural ventilation. Measurement of the outdoor-basement pressure differential and the radon entry rate shows that this unexpectedly large reduction in indoor radon levels is caused by two complementary physical processes: (1) the obvious one, dilution, which lowers radon concentrations by adding uncontaminated outdoor air; and (2) although less evident, introducing a pressure break in the system through an open basement window which, in turn, reduces the outdoor-basement pressure differential and the rate at which radon-laden soil gas is drawn into the house. The radon entry rate was found to be a linear function of basement depressurization up to a differential pressure of about 4 Pa, as would be expected for laminar soil gas flow; opening two basement windows approximately doubled the building air exchange rate and reduced the radon entry rate by up to a factor of 5.