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Radon from drinking water — evaluation of water-borne transfer into house air

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Abstract

To determine the transfer of222Rn from domestic water into air, nine houses were measured for222Rnt, house volume, water use and air exchange by SF6 and radon. Measurements were done in Maine during April and May, 1986, when sealed up for the winter. Radon in water concentration ranged from 35,000 to 1,250,000 pCi/l. Air peaks of222Rn ranged from 13 to 200 pCi/l due to a water use burst experiment. Use of water filters was also examined by repeats with filters on and off. Water use ranged from 200 to 1922 litres/day. House volumes ranged from 380 to 999 m3. Air exchange rates measured by SF6 was twice as large as air exchange rate measured by222Rn.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Maine, 04469, Orono, Maine, USA

    C. T. Hess & M. A. Vietti

  2. United States Environmental Protection Agency, 27711, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA

    D. T. Mage

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  1. C. T. Hess
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  2. M. A. Vietti
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  3. D. T. Mage
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Hess, C.T., Vietti, M.A. & Mage, D.T. Radon from drinking water — evaluation of water-borne transfer into house air. Environ Geochem Health 9, 68–73 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02057278

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02057278

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