_MNL_15-1994.pdf

Radon:Prevalence,Measurements,Health Risks and Control Niren L.Nagda,Editor ASTM Manual Series:MNL 15 ASTM Publication Code Number(PCN)28-015094-17 1916 Race Street,Philadelphia,PA 19103 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Radon:prevalence,measurements,health risks and control/Niren L.Nagda,editor.(ASTM manual series;MNL 15)ASTM publication code number(PCN)28-015094-17.Includes bibliographical references and index.ISBN 0-8031-2057-5 1.Radon-Environmental aspects.2.Radon-Measurement.I.Nagda,Niren Laxmichand,1946-.II.Series.TD885.5.R33R326 1994 363.738-dc20 94-11665 CIP Copyright?9 1994 AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS,Philadelphia,PA.All rights reserved.This material may not be reproduced or copied,in whole or in part,in any printed,mechanical,electronic,film,or other distribution and storage media,without the written consent of the publisher.Photocopy Rights Authorization to photocopy items for internal or personal use,or the internal or personal use of specific clients,is granted by the AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATE-RIALS for users registered with the Copyright Clearance Center(CCC)Transactional Reporting Service,provided that the base fee of$2.50 per copy,plus$0.50 per page is paid directly to CCC,222 Rosewood Dr.,Danvers,MA 01923;Phone:(508)750-8400;Fax:(508)750-4744.For those organizations that have been granted a photocopy license by CCC,a separate system of payment has been arranged.The fee code for users of the Transactional Reporting Service is 0-8031-2057-5/93$2.50+.50.NOTE:This manual does not purport to address(all of)the safety problems associated with its use.It is the responsibility of the user of this manual to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.Printed in Philadelphia,PA June 1994 Foreword This publication,Radon:Prevalence,Measurements,Health Risks and Control,was sponsored by ASTM Committee D22 on Sampling and Analysis of Atmospheres.The editor was Niren L.Nagda of ENERGEN Consulting,Inc.,Germantown,MD.This is Manual 15 in ASTMs manual series.III Acknowledgments The solid efforts by the authors of the chapters are clearly seen as one peruses this book.The authors responded to the many requests from ASTM and from me to complete their contributions for this book initiated in 1989.The behind-the-scene efforts by the reviewers and by the ASTM staff may not be as easy to recognize at first glance.I wish to thank Michael Brambley,Edward Maher,Gordon Nifong,and Harry Rector,who reviewed the chapter manuscripts.Their recommendations helped the authors and me to improve the content and presentation.The patience and hard work by the ASTM staff to publish this book is acknowl-edged.Without the persistent efforts of Kathy Dernoga,Manager of Acquisition and Review,and her staff including Monica Siperko,and David Jones,who served as the ASTM editor,this book would not have been possible.Finally,I am grateful to my family,who gracefully accepted the serious en-croachment the preparation of this book had on our family and leisure time.Niren L.Nagda Editor iv Contents Chapter 1-Radon-A Multifaceted Environmental Problem:An Overview by Niren L.Nagda Chapter 2Radon and the Natural Environment by Richard G.Sextro Chapter 3-Health Effects of Radon by Jonathan M.Samet Chapter 4Measurement Methods and Instrumentation by Roy C.Fortmann Chapter 5-Radon Measurement Protocols by Melinda Roca-Battista and Paul Magno Chapter 6-Geology and Occurrence of Radon by R.Randall Schumann,Linda C.S.Gundersen,and Allan B.Tanner Chapter 7-Concentration Patterns by Michael D.Koontz Chapter 8-Radon Control Strategies by Kelly W.Leovic and Richard Roth Chapter 9-EPAs Strategy to Reduce Risk of Radon by Steve Page Chapter 10-Current and Future Perspectives by Susan L.Rose Index 33 49 67 83 97 112 134 148 159 V MNL15-EB/Jun.1994 Radon-A Multifaceted Environmental Problem:An Overview by Niren L.Nagda 1 IMPORTANCE OF RADON DURING THE LAST TWO DECADES,it has been well publicized that exposure to radon causes lung cancer.Radon,a naturally occurring radioactive gas,seeps into and accumulates inside buildings.Elevated indoor radon concentrations have been observed in all parts of the United States 1.A consensus of opinion on human carcinogenicity of radon has been well established from studies of uranium miners by national and international health organizations such as the World Health Organizations International Agency for Research on Cancer(IARC)2,the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation(BEIR IV)Committee of the National Academy of Sciences 3,the International Commission on Radiological Protection(ICRP)4,and the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurement(NCRP)5.Still,the magnitude of expo-sure to and risks due to radon are not fully recognized by the general public.Among sources of ionizing radiation,natural radiation contributes the largest percentage to the total average annual effective dose equivalen