Re: Ron Kathrens comment on indoor radon concentrations

[rkathren@tricity.wsu.edu (Ron L. Kathren)]

Franz --

See my book, Radioactivity in the Environment, published in 1984, pp. 68ff.

Ron >At 15:29 27.01.1997 -0600, you wrote:
>>........................................................
>
>"How do indoor radon measurements/correlations get affected by snow cover/soil
>>moisture? :-)   This kind of unscientific rationalization pervades the
>>questions and questioners of Bernie's (and others') rigorously,
>>scientifically-developed, results. Others pick up such pejorative "questions"
>>and treat them as serious scientific questions and even uncertainties,
>>supporting the linear model campaign to raid the public purse."
>>
>>It is well known that snow cover and soil moisture affect outdoor airborne
>>radon concentrations; I daresay the effect on indoor levels has not been
>>well studied.  The question is legitimate; it is unquestionably not
>>"unscientific rationalization".  
>............................................................
>
>I do not want to comment on the very topic, but only on your comment
>repeated above. 
>
>The effect of snow cover, soil moisture, frozen soil, wind speed, wind
>direction, air temperature etc. (environmental factors) on the indoor radon
>levels exists. Studies are going on in Europe. It has probably not yet been
>studied extensively, but the influence of these environmental factors may
>change the indoor radon concentration by orders of magnitude. Depending on
>the circumstances there are houses, which show higher radon concentrations
>in summer than in winter. 
>
>These effects cannot be neglected. Nature is extremely complex and
>complicated and one has to consider all possible effects - this is
>legitimate and cannot be denied beforehand.
>
>Franz
>Schoenhofer
>Habichergasse 31/7
>A-1160 WIEN
>AUSTRIA/EUROPE
>Tel./Fax:	+43-1-4955308
>Tel.:		+43-664-3380333
>e-mail:		schoenho@via.at
>
>
>