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SITE-SPECIFIC MEASUREMENTS OF RESIDENTIAL RADON PROTECTION CATEGORY
Citation:
Nielson, K., R. Holt, AND V. Rogers. SITE-SPECIFIC MEASUREMENTS OF RESIDENTIAL RADON PROTECTION CATEGORY. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/R-96/108 (NTIS 97-104707), 1996.
Impact/Purpose:
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Description:
The report describes a series of benchmark measurements of soil radon potential at seven Florida sites and compares the measurements with regional estimates of radon potential from the Florida radon protection map. The measurements and map were developed under the Florida Radon Research Program to identify the amount of radon resistance that is needed for new buildings in different parts of Florida. While the measurement protocol and radon map have a common theoretical basis, the tests were designed to represent small site areas (4,000 sq m), compared with the larger 4 million sq m regions typically shown on the radon protection map. The comparisons included two sites mapped in the low radon potential category, three in the intermediate category, and two in the elevated category. Twenty samples were collected at each site from five boreholes to depths of 2.4 m. Measurements included soil radium concentration, density, texture classification, radon concentration, and water table. A simplified alternative protocol for estimating soil radium distributions from gamma ray logs of the five boreholes was also examined. The field measurements were analyzed with the RAETRAD-F computer code. The analyses showed that both of the sites mapped in the elevated radon potential category had elevated radon potentials and that both sites mapped in the low category had low radon potentials.