Re: Radon Migration Through Concrete

["Ron L. Kathren" <rkathren@tricity.wsu.edu>]

Ron --

What you are seeing is absolutely not surprising; radon buildup can easily
be monitored in a sealed building. There are a number of factors that will
give rise to radon buildup in a closed building.  The most important is the
source of radon, which in this case is concrete, and the lack of
ventilation.  Atmospheric pressure and temperature will also affect the
buildup rate.  A factor of 10 in 8 days is not extraordinary; the radon
evolving out of the concrete has a 3.8 day half life, and if the evolution
rate were constant (it is not, however), you would expect to get to about
80% of the final equilbrium value after 8 days.  The EPA and DOE both have
numerous publications of varying levels of detail available for the asking.

Ron Kathren


----- Original Message -----
From: Lavera, Ron <Ron.Lavera@nypa.gov>
To: Multiple recipients of list <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, June 21, 2000 9:48 AM
Subject: Radon Migration Through Concrete


> We have a welded steel lined building that has a substantial amount of
> poured concrete inside the building.  The building is about 25 years old.
>
> Can anyone provide information, explanations and/or examples that could
> indicate how the airborne radon concentration inside this sealed building
> could change by a factor of 10 over an 8 day period ?  The change has been
> steady for over a month with little or no variation.
>
> Thank you for your time and consideration.
>
> Ron LaVera
> Lavera.r@nypa.gov
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