radon distribution in homes

["Thurman Wenzl" <wenztb@email.msn.com>]

NCRP 94, of December 1987, reports several investigators' descriptions of
this distribution, which is quite skewed with median much less than the
average (arith. mean). On pg 97 they summarize Canadian data with medians
from 12-15 Bq/cu.m.
Interestingly, the BEIR VI exec summary refers to Marcinowski et al (Heal
Phys 66:699-706(1966)) who found a median of 25 Bq/cu.m and average of 46
Bq/cu.m.

It looks to me that this recent study is more dependable, given
the statistical care the authors describe to control bias and precision.

Since the average is nearly twice the median for these distributions, it
seems reasonable to use the median when we're trying to describe a 'typical'
home or a 'typical' person's exposure.

Thurman Wenzl ScD
Usual disclaimers; these are solely my own opinions.

-----Original Message-----
From: Bernard L Cohen <blc+@pitt.edu>
To: Multiple recipients of list
Date: Thursday, February 26, 1998 11:35 AM
Subject: query
> Is there anything more recent and authoritative for summarizing average
annual radiation exposure in U.S. than NCRP-93 (published in 1987)? Are any
of the figures given there changed by later info?
>
>Bernard L. Cohen
>Physics Dept.
>University of Pittsburgh
>Pittsburgh, PA 15260
>Tel: (412)624-9245
>Fax: (412)624-9163
>e-mail: blc+@pitt.edu