Re[2]: Radon in tap water

[John Goldsmith <gjohn@bgumail.bgu.ac.il>]

       According to the Chenical Handbook, Radon is highly soluble. 
Several investigators have made radon measurements in the water supply.
/?/One of the studies was in Maine, and C.T. Hess was involved. (REF. Hess 
CT, KorashJK, and Einloth CJ, "Radon in houses due to radon in 
potable water"-in "Radon and Its Decay Producs:Occurrrence, 
Properties and Health Effects", Hopke, PK, editor, ACS Symposium 
Series 331, American Chemical Society , WAshington, D.C.)
Collman GW, Loomis DP, and Sandler JP in Brit. J. Cancer -vol. 63, pps 
626-629, 1991 report on" Childhood Cancer and radon concentration in 
drinking water in North Carolina". They cite Kahlos and Asikainen as 
source for the estimate that..."10 to 15% of total radon in indoor air 
may typically be attributed ,directlky to ougassing from tap water."
Citations are made to Colthern CR, Lappenbusch Wl and MichelJ "Drinking 
Water Contribution to natural background radiation" Health Physics vol50, 
p. 33, 1950 and to KahlosH and Asikainen M, 'Internal radiation dose s 
from radioactivity of drinking water in Finland", Health Physics vol. 39, p 
108, 1980 . It is possible that neithr of these articles deals with 
radon, but I doubt it.  
	As you suggest it is not drinking the water but inhalaing the 
RAdon after outgassing which seems to major routa
 Hope this helps, 
gjohn@bgumail.bgu.ic.il
            John Goldsmith, Ben Gurion University of the Negev.


















minen





-------- Forwarded message 
---------- To: Multiple recipients of list <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu>
Subject: Re[2]: Radon in urine Part 2 -Reply

Errors-To: melissa@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
Reply-To: radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
Originator: radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
Sender: radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
Precedence: bulk
X-Listserver-Version: 6.0 -- UNIX ListServer by Anastasios Kotsikonas
X-Comment:  Radiation Safety Distribution List
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes, probably the term "soluble" is not fully meaningful, with regard to
radon in water, because it is a noble gas. It is, certainly, readily
transported in water, to the point where, as you say, the major source of
exposure in, e.g., a residence, can be the radon liberated from the water
supply in the course of using it, especially as wash water (showers, baths,
the kitchen sink). There's a professor at the University of Maine who did
some seminal work on this, about ten years ago. My apologies to him, because
I can't recall his name. Can anyone help?

Chris ALston

    Dr. Hess



          R.W. Field
          University of Iowa