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Results of poll regarding radon monitoring
I want to thank those that took the time to responds to my request on the
radsafe bulletin board. I received only 4 responses from universities with
radon monitoring programs and none from universities without programs. I do
not know if this means that there are only a few universities that have
radon monitoring programs. Below is my questions followed by a summary of
the results.
1. Do you have a program to measure and mitigate radon? If not, why not.
Four institutions said that they have radon monitoring programs. Two
institutions indicated that their state has environmental regulations that
require monitoring programs for radon levels. Both institutions are in the
same state. One of the two indicated that they only tested for radon levels
in the hospital and day-care facilities on campus in order to comply with
the state regulations.
2. If so, do you make measurements in resident halls?
Three of the four include resident halls in their monitoring program.
3. For resident halls, do you use a guideline other than the EPA limit of 4
pCi/l for Rn-222. (e.g., NCRP-91 guideline of 2 WLM per year or about 8
pCi/l).
Three use 4 pCi/l . The fourth institution that only monitors day-care and
hospitals also uses 4 pCi/l.
4. For the workplace do you use EPA guidelines or occupational limits as
defined by OSHA. (We have a consultant that has recommended that
concentrations of less than 7.5 pCi/l (Rn-222) averaged over one year need
not be mitigated. He based it on the definition of airborne radioactivity
area in the OSHA standard. My understanding is that 10 CFR regulations in
effect in 1971 still apply under OSHA regulations).
The three institutions that performs monitoring in occupational settings use
4 pCi/l.
Other comments:
1. One university provided the following comment concerning new
construction:
For new construction, a soil gas and radium measurement are required as part
of the site investigations. If the radon potential is high, a passive radon
mitigation system is required - basically a mat is placed below the slab and
pvc pipes are run to the roof with provision for a blower to be added later
if necessary. Radon levels are checked prior to bldg occupancy.
2. A university that has performed 1200 individual tests since 1988 in 250
buildings provided the following comment:
Initially, we used the EPA residential criteria and recommendations to
prioritize buildings for additional investigation or mitigation. Typical
follow-up actions have been additional testing (to confirm annual average
radon concentrations and evaluate seasonal fluctuations), installation of
small ventilation fans, evaluation of building HVAC systems, and
installation of radon mitigation systems.
Lately, our focus has been more on follow-up testing than mitigation. It's
partly because we want to make sure that mitigation is warranted rather than
acting on a one-time test result. Another factor is that we've used up the
state funding the state gave us several years ago for use on radon, and the
operating units are trying to figure out how to fund additional work.
Where mitigation systems were installed (office buildings, classroom
buildings, residences, and dorms), our follow-up testing has shown that the
systems and ventilation fans have been effective in reducing radon
concentrations. Ongoing maintenance of the systems can be a challenge.
----------------------------------------
Danny Anglin, Radiation Safety Officer
Vanderbilt Environmental Health & Safety
Danny.anglin@vanderbilt.edu
Phone: 615-343-0761
Fax: 615-343-4951
U-0211 MCN
1161 21st Ave. S.
Nashville, TN 37232-2665
www.safety.vanderbilt.edu
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