Re: Ron Kathrens comment on indoor radon concentrations

[Bernard L Cohen <blc+@pitt.edu>]

	If you can convert your comment into a possible scenario on which
I can do calculations, I would be very appreciative.

Bernard L. Cohen
Physics Dept.
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Tel: (412)624-9245
Fax: (412)624-9163
e-mail: blc+@pitt.edu


On Tue, 28 Jan 1997, Schoenhofer wrote:

> To those interested, especially to Jim Muckerheide and Bernard Cohen:
> 
> I mentioned explicitely that I do not want to comment the original topic, I
> commented only the question of radon variation with environmental factors. 
> 
> The environmental factors exist and they might influence heavily the so
> called "yearly average" - whatever this should be. Using myself in the
> Austrian Radon Project short term measurements with activated charcoal and
> liquid scintillation spectrometry I am well aware of the pitfalls of
> deriving the "yearly average" from both short and long term measurements. I
> mentioned that there might be orders of magnitude difference between radon
> concentrations under different conditions. Average radon concentrations are
> the basis for calculated radon doses and if errors (for instance by
> extrapolating short or long term measurements to the whole year) occur in
> determining the average radon concentrations, then the dose will be wrong as
> well. This may occur, maybe it may not. I read quite a few brilliant papers
> dealing with the question of representativity of short term measurements -
> one by Bernie Cohen. 
> 
> My comment was not at all a negative comment to Bernie Cohens contribution.
> I have no reason to do it, since I admire his style and his way of
> argumentation. Nevertheless it must be legitimate to discuss factors which
> might influence results.
> 
> Franz
> Schoenhofer
> Habichergasse 31/7
> A-1160 WIEN
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>