United States
                   Environmental Protection
                   Agency
Air and Energy Engineering
Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park NC 27711
                   Research and Development
EPA/600/S9-91/026  Oct. 1991
x EPA       Project Summary
                   Proceedings: The 1990
                   International  Symposium on
                   Radon and  Radon  Reduction
                   Technology
                   Ronald B. Mosley, Compiler
                    The proceedings of the 1990 Interna-
                  tional Symposium on Radon and Radon
                  Reduction Technology are contained in
                  three volumes. Volumes 1 and 2 contain
                  47 oral papers and 13 panel papers, while
                  Volume 3 contains 45 poster papers. The
                  presentation of these papers provided
                  an opportunity for and stimulated the
                  exchange of information among partici-
                  pants on a variety of topics relating to
                  indoor radon and its control.
                    The symposium was jointly spon-
                  sored by EPA's Air and Energy Engi-
                  neering  Research Laboratory and its
                  Office of Radiation Programs. The meet-
                  ing was held  In  Atlanta, Georgia, on
                  February 19-23, 1990. Participation
                  reached nearly 600 representing  fed-
                  eral, state, and local governments, ra-
                  don  measurement companies, radon
                  mitigation companies,  research orga-
                  nizations, academia, construction com-
                  panies, real estate and relocation com-
                  panies, and school facilities personnel.
                    This Project Summary was developed
                  by EPA's Air and Energy Engineering
                  Research Laboratory, Research Triangle
                  Park, NC, to highlight the key findings of
                  the symposium.  The results  of recent
                  research are fully documented in the
                  three volumes of the proceedings by the
                  same title. Information for ordering the
                  full proceedings  is at the back of this
                  summary.

                  Introduction
                    The papers contained in the proceedings
                  cover a broad range of  topics  including:
                  government programs, policies, and public
                  information relating to radon, radon-related
health studies, radon measurement meth-
ods, radon surveys, radon entry dynamics,
radon in the natural environment, radon
reduction methods, radon prevention in new
construction, and radon issues in schools
and other large buildings. It was revealed
that,  in spite of the recommendations by
both  EPA and the Surgeon General  for
everyone to test their houses, less than 5%
of the homeowners have tested for radon. It
was also noted that most of the measure-
ments that are being made are stimulated
by real estate transactions. Most  people
who test do not follow up with mitigation,
and frequently those who do mitigate end
up with an inferior installation because they
elect to go with the lowest bidder. A 1989
study of 473 radon mitigation  systems in
New Jersey indicated that 56% of the post-
mitigation measurements on the lowest floor
were below 4 pCi/L, compared to only 38%
in a similar 1988 study.
  Limited studies  of the reliability of mitiga-
tion systems indicate that many subslab
depressurization systems are operating sta-
bly after 2-4 years. One common failure has
been the capacitor in the fan. A limited set of
studies support the argumentthat a subslab
depressurization system with a passive stack
may be a judicious first step for builders in
radon-prone areas.
  Differences of opinion still abound con-
cerning the best procedures for measuring
radon concentrations in schools. However,
most commenters favored testing during
the school year (as opposed to summertime
testing) under closed conditions with the air
handlers off. Major school testing programs
are underway,  and some mitigation is tak-
ing place. Increased activity in  testing and
                                                                   Printed on Recycled Paper

-------
                   United States
                   Environmental Protection
                   Agency
Air and Energy Engineering
Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park NC 27711
                   Research and Development
EPA/600/S9-91/026  Oct. 1991
y EPA       Project Summary
                   Proceedings: The 1990
                   International  Symposium on
                   Radon and  Radon  Reduction
                   Technology
                   Ronald B. Mosley, Compiler
                    The proceedings of the 1990 Interna-
                  tional Symposium on Radon and Radon
                  Reduction Technology are contained in
                  three volumes. Volumes 1 and 2 contain
                  47 oral papers and 13 panel papers, while
                  Volume 3 contains 45 poster papers. The
                  presentation of these papers provided
                  an opportunity for and stimulated the
                  exchange of information among partici-
                  pants on a variety of topics relating to
                  indoor radon and its control.
                    The symposium was jointly spon-
                  sored by EPA's Air and Energy Engi-
                  neering  Research Laboratory and its
                  Office of Radiation Programs. The meet-
                  ing was held  in Atlanta, Georgia, on
                  February 19-23, 1990. Participation
                  reached nearly 600 representing  fed-
                  eral, state, and local governments, ra-
                  don  measurement companies, radon
                  mitigation companies,  research orga-
                  nizations, academia, construction com-
                  panies, real estate and relocation com-
                  panies, and school facilities personnel.
                    This Project Summary was developed
                  by EPA's Air and Energy Engineering
                  Research Laboratory, Research Triangle
                  Park, NC, to highlight the key findings of
                  the symposium. The results  of recent
                  research are fully documented in the
                  three volumes of the proceedings by the
                  same title. Information for ordering the
                  full proceedings Is at the back of this
                  summary.

                  Introduction
                    The papers contained in the proceedings
                  cover a broad range of  topics  including:
                  government programs, policies, and public
                  information relating to radon, radon-related
health studies, radon measurement meth-
ods, radon surveys, radon entry dynamics,
radon in the natural environment, radon
reduction methods, radon prevention in new
construction, and radon issues in schools
and other large buildings. It was revealed
that,  in spite of the recommendations by
both  EPA and the Surgeon General  for
everyone to test their houses, less than 5%
of the homeowners have tested for radon. It
was also noted that most of the measure-
ments that are being made are stimulated
by real estate transactions. Most  people
who test do not follow up with mitigation,
and frequently those who do mitigate end
up with an inferior installation because they
elect to go with the lowest bidder. A 1989
study of 473 radon mitigation systems in
New Jersey indicated that 56% of the post-
mitigation measurements on the lowestfloor
were below 4 pCi/L, compared to only 38%
in a similar 1988 study.
  Limited studies  of the reliability of mitiga-
tion systems indicate that many subslab
depressurization systems are operating sta-
bly after 2-4 years. One common failure has
been the capacitor in the fan. A limited set of
studies support the argumentthat a subslab
depressurization system with a passive stack
may be a judicious first step for builders in
radon-prone areas.
  Differences of opinion still abound con-
cerning the best procedures for measuring
radon concentrations in schools. However,
most commenters favored testing during
the school year (as opposed to summertime
testing) under closed conditions with the air
handlers off. Major school testing programs
are underway,  and some mitigation is tak-
ing place. Increased activity in testing and
                                                                 v Printed on Recycled Paper

-------
mitigating schools is anticipated for the near
future.
  Participants were welcomed by Georgia
State Representative Frank Redding. An
invited Lead Talk was presented by Vernon
Houk, Assistant Surgeon General from the
Centers for Disease Control.   Houk dis-
cussed implications of radon health risks to
the public, and emphasized the importance
of reducing these risks. His characterization
of health risks was followed by keynote
speaker, Richard J. Guimond, Director of
EPA's Office of Radiation Programs.
  The keynote address challenged partici-
pants in three  areas: (1) to continue to
explore science as a means to improve
measurement technology, mitigation tech-
nology, and preventive capabilities; (2) to
not lose sight of the "big picture"—reducing
health risks—and that, if errors  are inevi-
table, they should be made in the interest of
protecting the public health rather than ex-
cessive scientific conservatism; and (3) to
foster cooperation among the many groups
(scientists, federal and state governments,
educators, measurement and mitigation in-
dustries, and the building trades) in order to
protect the public interest and the public
health.

Volumes 1 and 2 — Papers
  Volumes 1 and 2 contain 47 papers (pre-
sented orally in the nine sessions listed
below) and 13 papers on measurements
and measurement methods (presented in
panel discussions). The titles, principal au-
thors, and affiliations are listed below for
each session. Papers for Sessions I-IV are
in Volume 1; those for Sessions V-IX are in
Volume 2.

Session I: Government
Programs, Policies, and Public
Information Relating to Radon

Dennis Wagner, Chairperson
EPA-Offlce of Radiation
Programs
EPA's Radon Action Program: Accomplish-
ments and Future Challenges
Margo Oge, EPA-Office of Radiation Pro-
grams

Regulation of Radon in Drinking Water
Gregory Helms, EPA-Office  of Drinking
Water

"Social Marketing" and the Reduction of
Indoor Radon
Thomas J. Bierma, Illinois State University
Public Policy Considerations and the De-
velopment of a Code for the Control of
Radon in Residences
Mike Nuess, Washington Energy Extension
Service

Evolution of EPA's National Radon Mitiga-
tion Training and  Quality Assurance Pro-
grams
Jed Harrison, EPA-Office of Radiation Pro-
grams

Session II: Radon-Related
Health Studies

Christie Ehmann, Chairperson
Centers for Disease Control
Lung Cancer Mortality Among Nonsmoking
Uranium Miners Exposed to Radon Daugh-
ters
Robert J.  Roscoe,  National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health

Radon and Lung Cancer Among New Jer-
sey Women
Janet Schoenberg, New Jersey State De-
partment of Health

EPA's Approach to Assessment of Radon
Risk
Anita Schmidt, EPA-Officeof Radiation Pro-
grams

Radon Daughter Exposure in Dwellings and
Multiple Myeloma
Inge Tell, Lund University, Sweden

Whole Body Counting of Radon Daughters
Robert  A. Schlenker, Argonne National
Laboratory

High Radon Houses: Questions About Log
Normal  Distributions and Implications for
Epidemiology and Risk Assessment
Robert Goble, Princeton University

Session III: Radon
Measurement Methods

Samuel T. Wlndham
Chairperson, EPA-Eastern
Environmental Radiation
Facility
Time  Series Linear Regression  of  Half-
Hourly Radon Levels in a Residence
David A. Hull, Princeton University

Experience with the Wire Screen Unattached
Fraction Measurement Technique,
Douglas Van Cleef, EPA-Eastern Environ-
mental Radiation Facility
Panel Discussion on QA/QC of
Radon Measurements

Terry Howell, Moderator

Quality Assurance and Quality Control in
the Radon Measurement Industry: What is
Missing?
Terry Howell, Radon Reduction and Test-
ing, Inc.

Comparison of the Electret-Passive Radon
Monitor System with Charcoal Canisters in
Controlled Environments
James R. Summers, Analyses Corporation

A  Radon Chamber Comparison  of Alpha
Track Detectors Over a Range  of Expo-
sures
William M. Yeager, Research Triangle Insti-
tute

A  Study of Batch Calibrations on 4" Open
Faced Charcoal Absorbers from  Four Dif-
ferent Manufacturers and How They Com-
pare to EERFs Published Calibration Curves
Dallas L. Jones, Radon Reduction & Test-
ing, Inc.

Calibration of Alpha-Track Monitors for Mea-
surement of Thoron (Rn-220)
Mark D. Pearson, UNC Geotech

Quality Assurance Procedures for Home
Radon Testing
Richard Tucker, Radonics, Inc.


Panel Discussion on ShorWLong-
Term Radon Measurements

Richard Sextro, Moderator
Issues in the Use of Short-Term  Radon
Concentration Measurements for Evaluat-
ing Long-Term Exposures
Richard Sextro, Lawrence Berkeley Labo-
ratory

The Relationship Between Winter Screen-
ing and Annual Average Radon Concentra-
tions in U. S. Homes
Melinda Ronca-Battista, Scientific and Com-
mercial Systems Corporation

Temporal Patterns of Indoor Radon in North
Central Florida and Comparison  of Short-
Term Monitoring to Long-Term Averages
Charles E. Roessler, University of Florida

Study on the Reliability of Short-Term Mea-
surements to Predict Long-Term Basement
Radon Levels in a Residence
T. Agami Reddy, Princeton University

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Results  of Short-and  Long-Term Radon
Measurements in Soil and Dwellings by
Alpha Track Detectors
L. Tommasino, ENEA-DISP, Rome, Italy

A Statistical Analysis: Predicting Annual
^Rn Concentrations from 2-Day Screen-
ing Tests
S. B. White, Research Triangle Institute

Session IV: Ration Surveys

Paul Wagner, Chairperson
EPA-Reglon 4, Office of
Radiation

Radon Exposure in Connecticut: Analysis
of Three Statewide Surveys of Nearly One
Percent of Single Family Homes
Alan J. Siniscalchi,  State of Connecticut
Department of Health Services

Residential Radon Survey of 25 States
Jacolyn A. Dziuban, EPA-Office of Radia-
tion Programs

Surveys of Radon Levels in Homes by Uni-
versity of Pittsburgh Radon Project
Bernard L. Cohen, University of Pittsburgh

Radon in Norwegian Dwellings
Terje Strand, National Institute of Radiation
Hygiene, Norway

Session V: Radon Entry
Dynamics

William J. Angell, Chairperson
University of Minnesota
A Simplified Modeling Approach and Field
Verification of Airflow  Dynamics in SSD
Radon Mitigation Systems
Kenneth J. Gadsby, Princeton University

The Role of Diffusion in Radon Entry Into
Houses
Allan B. Tanner, U. S. Geological Survey

Soil Gas and  Radon Entry Potentials for
Substructure Surfaces
Bradley Turk, Consultant

Measurements and Modelling of Radon In-
filtration Into a Dwelling
P. Stoop, Kernfysisch Versneller Instituut,
the Netherlands

Session VI: Radon  In the
Natural Environment

Bob Fakundiny, Chairperson
New York State Geology
Department
Benchmark  and Application of the
RAETRAD Model
Vern C. Rogers, Rogers & Associates Engi-
neering Corp.
Geologic Controls on Radon Occurrence in
Georgia
L. T. Gregg, Atlanta Testing and Engineer-
ing

Correlations of Soil-Gas and Indoor Radon
with Geology in Glacially Derived Soils of
the Northern Great Plains
R.  Randall Schumann, U.S.  Geological
Survey

Geologic Factors and House Construction
Practices Affecting  Indoor  Radon  in
Onondaga County, New York
Charles Laymon, New York State Depart-
ment of Health

Geologic Controls on Indoor Radon in the
Pacific Northwest
James K. Otton, U.S. Geological Survey

Session VII: Radon  Reduction
Methods

Michael C. Osborne
Chairperson
EPA-Air and Energy
Engineering Research
Laboratory

Evaluation of Sub-Slab Ventilation for In-
door Radon Reduction in Slab-on-Grade
Houses
D. Bruce Henschel, EPA-Air and Energy
Engineering Research  Laboratory

Radon Mitigation Experience in Houses with
Basements and Adjoining Crawl Spaces
Marc Messing, INFILTEC

Engineering Design Criteria  for Sub-Slab
Depressurization Systems in Low Perme-
ability Soils
Charles S. Fowler, Southern Research In-
stitute

Radon Mitigation Techniques for Basement
Houses with Poor Sub-Slab Communica-
tion
Bobby E. Pyle, Southern Research Institute

One-Year Follow-Up Study of Performance
of Radon Mitigation Systems Installed  in
Tennessee Valley  Houses
Charles S. Dudney, Oak  Ridge National
Laboratory

A Cost-Effectiveness Comparison  of Pri-
vate-Sector Radon Remediation with Tradi-
tional Radiation Protection  Activities
Daniel J. Strom, University of Pittsburgh

The Effectiveness of Radon  Reduction  in
New Jersey
Nick DePierro, New Jersey Department  of
Environmental Protection
 Long-Term Performance and Durability of
 Active Radon Mitigation Systems in East-
 ern Pennsylvania Houses
 Arthur Scott, American ATCON

 Session VIII:  Radon Prevention
 In New Construction

 Michael Nuess, Chairperson
 Washington Energy Extension
 Services

 Evaluation of Radon Resistant New Con-
 struction Techniques
 Terry Brennan, Camroden Associates

 Radon Mitigation  Performance of Passive
 Stacks in Residential New Construction
 David Saum, INFILTEC

 Sub-Slab Pressure Field Extension Studies
 on Four Test Slabs Typical of Florida Con-
 struction
 Richard A. Furman, University of Florida

 A Pilot Study to Evaluate Radon Resistance
 of Films and Sealants Using Perf luorocarbon
 Tracers
 Mark Nowak, NAHB National Research
 Center

 The Use of Coatings and Block Specifica-
 tion to Reduce Radon Inflow Through Block
 Basement Walls
 John S. Ruppersberger, EPA-Air and  En-
 ergy Engineering Research Laboratory


 Session IX: Radon In  Schools
 and Large Buildings

 Alfred B. Craig, Chairperson
 EPA-AIr and Energy
 Engineering Research
 Laboratory

 Radon Measurements in 130 Schools:  Re-
 sults and  Implications
 R. Thomas Peake, EPA-Office of Radiation
 Programs

 Radon Diagnostics and Mitigation inTwo
 Public Schools in Nashville, Tennessee
Alfred B. Craig, EPA-Air and  Energy Engi-
 neering Research Laboratory

The Effects of HVAC System Design and
Operation on Radon Entry Into School Build-
 ings
William A. Turner, Harriman Associates

Radon Mitigation Experience  in Difficult-to-
Mitigate Schools
Kelly W. Leovic, EPA-Air and  Energy Engi-
neering Research Laboratory

Air Pressure Distribution and Radon Entry
Processes in  East Tennessee Schools
Linda D. Sinclair, Oak Ridge National Labo-
ratory

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 Radon in Schools of Massachusetts
 Lee Grodzins, NITON Corporation

 Radon Gas Testing in Kentucky Schools:
 Summer Testing Pragmatic Concerns and
 Pressure/HVAC Considerations
 Patrick S. Holmes,  Alpha Spectra of Ken-
 tucky, Inc.

 Radon Surveys in  Large Buildings - The
 UCF Radon Project
 Ralph A. Llewellyn, University of Central
 Florida
Volumes— Papers
  This volume contains a lead paper and 45
poster papers  that were presented. The
titles, principal authors, and affiliations are
listed below for each session.

Lead Paper: Reducing the Health Risks of
            Radon to the Public
            Vernon  N. Houk,  (Invited
            Speaker)
            Assistant Surgeon General
            Centers for Disease Control


Session I:  Poster Papers

Indoor Radon  Levels in Columbus and
Franklin County, Ohio, Residences, Com-
mercial Buildings, and Schools
Harry E. Grafton, Columbus, Ohio, Health
Department
Model Standards and Techniques for Con-
trolling Radon Levels within New Buildings
David M. Murane, EPA-Office of Radiation
Programs
The Florida Radon Research Program: Sys-
tematic Development of a Basis for State-
wide Standards
David C. Sanchez, EPA - Air and Energy
Engineering Research Laboratory

Ten Practical Lessons for an Effective Ra-
don Risk Communication Program (Abstract
Only)
Ann Fisher, EPA-Office of Policy, Planning,
and Evaluation

Interactive House Investigation and Radon
Diagnostics Computer Program
Lynne M. Gillette, EPA-Office of Radiation
Programs

Community-Based Radon Education Pro-
grams
Joseph Laquatra, Cornell University
 Session II: Poster Papers

 Radon-Induced Lung Cancer Risk Estimates
 for the New Jersey Population
 Mary Cahill,  New  Jersey  Department of
 Environmental Protection

 Indoor Radon Exposure in Norway and Lung
 Cancer Risk
 Tore Sanner, Institute for Cancer Research,
 Oslo, Norway

 Validity of Various Epidemiological Ap-
 proaches to Assessing Radon Health Risk
 Susan M. Conrath, EPA-Office of Radiation
 Programs

 Assessment of Health  Impacts of Radon
 Exposures in  Florida
 W. T. Vonstille, University of Central Florida

 Realistic Evaluation of Tester Exposure
 Based on Florida Testing Experience
 Richard A. Schrieber,  Razman  Associates

 Session III:  Poster Papers
 An E-RPISU (Electret Radon Progeny Inte-
 grating Sampling Unit):  A New Instrument
 for Measurement of Radon Progeny Con-
 centration in Air
 Paul Kotrappa, Rad Elec, Inc.

 A Review of the Detection  Technology in
 the At Ease Radon  Monitor
 William E. Simon, Sun Nuclear Corporation

 A Comprehensive  Radon Assay System
 Using Cellulose Nitrate Films
 Anders Damkjaer, The Technical University
 of Denmark

 Two-Filter Continuous Monitor for Low Lev-
 els of ^Rn and ^Rn
 David Grumm, New  Mexico Institute of Min-
 ing and Technology

 Accuracy and Precision of Passive  Long-
 term Radon Detectors  as  a Function of
 Concentration and Exposure Time
 Robert J. Lyon, EPA-Office of Radiation
 Programs

 The EPA Diffusion  Barrier Charcoal Ab-
 sorber for Radon Measurements in Indoor
 Air
 David J. Gray, EPA-Eastern Environmental
 Radiation Facility

 Session IV: Poster Papers

Survey of Radon 222 in Monroe County,
 Pennsylvania
Paul N. Houle, East Stroudsburg University

Private Sector Radon Mitigation Survey
 John Hoornbeek, EPA-Office of Radiation
 Programs
 Sampling Strategies of Radon Surveys: The
 Italian Experience
 Gloria Campos-Venuti, National Institute of
 Health, Rome, Italy

 First-Phase Study Design for the U. S. Navy
 Radon Assessment and Mitigation Program
 (NAVRAMP)
 Richard B. Gammage, Oak Ridge National
 Laboratory

 Radon in Water Aeration System Opera-
 tional Performance
 Bruce L. Lamarre, North East Environmen-
 tal Products, Inc.

 National Residential Radon Survey
 Frank Marcinowski, EPA-Office of Radia-
 tion Programs

 Session V: Poster Papers

 Sub-Slab Suction System Design  for Low
 Permeability Soils
 David  Hintenlang, University of Florida

 Interpreting the Vacuum Suction Test
 Terry Brennan, Camroden Associates

 Seasonal Variations of Indoor Radon Con-
 centrations
 Benny Majborn, Riso National Laboratory,
 Denmark

 Dynamic Multi-Compartment Modelling:The
 Transport of Radon and Its Decay Products
 Indoors
 Craig P. Wray, G. K. Yuill and Associates,
 Inc.

 A Data Acquisition  System for Monitoring
 Radon Entry and Distribution
 R. P. Sieber, University of Saskatchewan

 Session VI: Poster Papers

 Determination of Radon-Geologic Provinces
 in the United States
 R. Thomas Peake, EPA - Office of Radia-
tion Programs

Secular Variations of Radon in Metropolitan
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Mory M. Ghomshei, Orchard Geothermal,
Inc.

Radon in Soils, Caves and Homes of North
Central Tennessee
Paul D. Collar,  U. S. Geological Survey

A Statistical Summary of Uranium and Ra-
don in Soils from the Coastal Plain of Texas,
Alabama and New Jersey
Linda  C. S. Gundersen, U. S. Geological
Survey

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Effects of Regional and Seasonal Varia-
tions in Soil Moisture and Temperature on
Soil Gas Radon
Arthur W. Rose, Pennsylvania State Uni-
versity

Session VII:  Poster Papers

Energy Penalties Associated with the Use
of a Sub-Slab Depressurization System
Mike Clarkin, Camroden Associates, Inc.

Long-Term Durability and Performance  of
Radon  Mitigation Subslab Depressuriza-
tion Systems
David T. Harrje, Princeton University

Radon Abatement System Ancillary Item
Ronald F. Simon, RF Simon Company, Inc.

Laboratory Studies of "Between the Rooms"
Radon Decay Product Removal Units
Dade W. Moeller, Harvard School of Public
Health
Radon Mitigation Techniques for Norwe-
gian Houses
Bjorn  Lind,  National Institute of Radiation
Hygiene, Norway

Session VIII:  Poster Paper

Radon Reduction in Wood Foundation Sys-
tem
Roscoe J. Clark, Permanent Wood Foun-
dation, Inc.

Session IX: Poster Papers

Prediction of Maximum Radon Concentra-
tions  in  Schools  Using  Partial Sampling
Methods
William E. Belanger, EPA-Region 3

Commercial Mitigation Techniques Used in
Remediating a 2200 pCi/L Public Building
James G. Davidson, Radon Detection Ser-
vices, Inc.
EPA's School  Protocol  Development
Study — Phase II
Anita Schmidt, EPA-Off ice of Radiation Pro-
grams

Radon Levels in Non-Residential Buildings
in New Jersey
Karen Tuccillo, New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection

Electret Ion Chambers for Radon Measure-
ments in Schools During  Occupied and
Unoccupied Periods
Kenneth D. Wiggers, American Radon Ser-
vices, Ltd.

Measuring Radon in the Workplace
Michael Boyd, EPA-Off ice of Radiation Pro-
grams

The School Evaluation Program
Eugene  Fisher,  EPA-Office of Radiation
Programs
                                                                      •ftU.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1991 - 548-028/40088

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