United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of
Research and Development
Washington, DC 20460
Air and Energy Engineering
Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
EPA/600/N-93/013 Auaust 1993
v>EPA Radon Mitigation Research Update
Introduction
The Radon Mitigation Research Update
is the fifth in a series of research sum-
maries intended to provide recent infor-
mation on radon mitigation research ac-
tivities at EPA's Air and Energy Engi-
neering Research Laboratory (AEERL).
The Update summarizes recently com-
pleted and ongoing research activities
intended to achieve the Radon Mitiga-
tion Branch's (RMB's) research objec-
tives. The mission of RMB is to reduce
the risk of indoor radon through innova-
tion, development, demonstration, and
technology transfer of radon reduction
methods. These methods must be prac-
tical, cost effective, and reliable. Re-
search topics included in this Update are
listed in the table of contents. If you
would like more information about spe-
cific research activities or programs, you
may contact the appropriate project of-
ficer at the number listed on this page.
Copies of the four earlier Updates may
be requested by writing to
Radon Mitigation Research Update
U.S. EPA, AEERL (MD-54)
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711.
AEERL plans to publish subsequent Up-
dates approximately twice a year.
This Update contains two sections. Sec-
tion 1, Project Highlights, contains sum-
maries of completed or ongoing research
projects. These summaries are intended
to provide the radon mitigation commu-
nity with timely and useful information in
RMB's four research areas: Existing
Houses, New House Construction,
Schools and Other Large Buildings, and
Innovative and Supporting Research
(covering research in the other three
areas). Some of this information is based
on regional or preliminary findings and
should be viewed as such. As research
programs progress, RMB will publish the
final results as technical reports, manu-
als, and papers. Section 2, Publications
and Additional Information, contains a
brief summary of the 1992 Radon Sym-
posium, a request for comments on the
Update, a list of RMB publications com-
pleted since the previous Update, and a
list of the EPA Regional Offices and
State Radiation Contacts.
Contents
Section 1: Project Highlights 2
• Innovative and Supporting
Research 2
• Existing House Research 2
• New House Construction
Research.
3
Schools and Other Large
Buildings Research
Section 2: Publications and
Additional Information 10
• Feedback on the Update 10
• New IAQ Newsletter 10
• 1992 International Symposium
on Radon and Radon Reduction
Technology 10
• Recent RMB Publications 11
• EPA Regional Offices 12
• State Radon Contacts 12
Radon Mitigation Research Contacts
TimDyess(919)541-2802
Chief, Radon Mitigation Branch
A. B. "Chick" Craig (919) 541-2824
Radon-resistant schools and
other large building construction
Bruce Henschel (919) 541-4112
Radon mitigation in existing
houses
Mitigation and ventilation cost
studies
Russell Kulp (919) 541-7980
Ventilation studies
Marc Menetrez (919) 541-7981
Innovative and supporting
research
Radon reduction in attached
housing
Schools and other large build-
ings diagnostics
Ron Mosley (919) 541-7865
Radon data analysis
Transport and entry modeling
David Sanchez (919) 541-2979
Florida Radon Research
Program
Radon barriers and new house
evaluation
Les Sparks (919) 541-2458
Indoor air control technologies
Indoor air model development
Kelly Leovic (919) 541-7717
Radon mitigation in schools
Bruce Harris (919) 541-7807
Radon diagnostics and measure-
ment technology
Durability of mitigation systems
Printed on Recycled Paper
-------
Section 1: Project Highlights
Innovative and
Supporting Research
Evaluation of Radon Move-
ment Through Soil and Foun-
dation Substructures
RMB is conducting pilot studies of radon
movement using a steel chamber con-
taining 21 cubic yards (16 cubic m) of
radium-laden soil. A central perforated
pipe under vacuum simulates a driving
force. Recirculating soil probes are in
position to take samples near the center
of the chamber where the soil has been
placed. During the soil placement pro-
cess, RMB measured and controlled the
radium content, the moisture, and the
density of the soil. A moisture probe
records changes in the dielectric con-
stant of the soil outside several vertical
polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes to deter-
mine the moisture at various depths and
distances from the driving force. The
level of water in the chamber is mea-
sured by examining clear vertical view-
ing tubes connected to the chamber bot-
tom. Instruments to measure radon lev-
els, temperature, and pressure are in
place and functioning. On-going tracer
gas experiments are helping to deter-
mine the rate of movement at various
distances from the driving force, depths,
and moisture conditions in both the verti-
cal and horizontal planes. RMB will com-
bine this information, collected at differ-
ent levels of driving force, together with
moisture and radon level information to
provide more complete information on
how radon moves through soil and en-
ters buildings. The June 1992 Update
provides additional information on this
project (see "Evaluation of Radon Move-
ment Through Soil and Foundation Sub-
structures," page 6), and final results will
be included in a future Update.
>• Ron Mosley
Heating, Ventilating, and Air-
Conditioning (HVAC) Systems
as Sources of Indoor Air
Pollution
Until recently, there was no reason to
assume that ventilation systems might
contribute to indoor air pollution: their
purpose is to improve the quality of the
air supplied to an occupied space. But
recent studies have shown that HVAC
systems can be part of the "sick building
syndrome" along with such sources as
building materials, carpeting, and equip-
ment. RMB has just entered into a coop-
erative agreement with the American
Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and
Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc.
(ASHRAE) to provide information that
will help design engineers evaluate where
pollution sources are found within HVAC
systems and the significance of those
sources. ASHRAE has now awarded a
contract to the University of Michigan to
conduct two specific research efforts:
identify and quantify the pollut-
ants emitted from HVAC system
materials and components; and
identify and quantify the relation-
ship between those emissions
and HVAC system design,
operation, and maintenance.
Work began in October 1992 and will
continue for 18 months. RMB and
ASHRAE are also considering a larger
field study to confirm the results of the
first two tasks and a laboratory study to
better define the results under controlled
conditions.
3* Russell Kulp
Ventilation Literature Search
and Research Survey
This new project complements the HVAC
work described above. The Research
Triangle Institute (RTI) is performing a
comprehensive literature search that will
cover both field and academic engineer-
ing work on indoor air pollution from all
sources: radon, volatile organic com-
pounds (VOCs), particulates, and
biologicals. The literature search should
identify indoor air quality (IAQ)/ventila-
tion research areas in which RMB's on-
going research work can be most useful.
In addition, RTI will also survey the re-
search being conducted by other rel-
evant programs such as those conducted
by the National Institute of Standards
and Technology (NIST), the Department
of Energy (DOE), ASHRAE, and the Na-
tional Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health (NIOSH). This survey will
help RMB confirm and evaluate the re-
sults of the literature search. Work be-
gan in late 1992 and will be complete by
August 31, 1993. The survey will be
provided in the form of an EPA report
from NTIS.
»• Russell Kulp
Existing House
Research
Radon Mitigation in Attached
Houses
As described in the June 1992 Update,
RMB investigated techniques that can
be used to reduce radon levels in at-
tached housing structures as well as
individual residential units. The research
was done in attached apartments in
CortJand, New York. Mitigation measures,
including Active Soil Depressurization
(ASD), sump pit encapsulation, and pres-
surization through the HVAC air handler,
were installed and mitigation of the en-
tire apartment complex is now complete.
The results are promising: radon levels
in the living areas of all apartments were
reduced by various amounts, from a
maximum of approximately 14 pCi/L to
less than 4 pCi/L. The data have been
correlated, and a report will be available
in the next few months.
>• Marc Menetrez
ASD Exhaust Re-entrainment
Research
Testing is continuing on the field project
at Pennsylvania State University, de-
scribed in the June 1992 Update (see
"ASD Exhaust Re-Entrainment Re-
search," page 2), and subsequent test-
ing will evaluate the re-entrainment (in-
door exposure) and dispersion (outdoor
exposure) of ASD exhaust gas as deter-
mined from the simulated exhaust sys-
tem constructed. This "mock" system can
be adjusted to reproduce any desired
exhaust location or system configuration
around a house, and will release a tracer
gas (SFg) rather than radon. For the
tests, the system will be adjusted to ex-
amine
four grade-level and two roof
exhaust locations,
one or two exhaust configura-
tions at each location,
two exhaust velocities (covering
the range of commercial ASD
systems), and
-------
a range of weather conditions
(primarily high to low wind
velocity, and upwind, downwind,
and sidewind directions).
In a separate study planned at Colorado
State University, a wind tunnel will be
used, with model houses being placed in
this wind tunnel, and the fate of the
exhaust gases quantified by releasing
tracer gases from mock ASD exhaust
stacks. Variables to be studied include
exhaust location and configuration, ex-
haust velocity, house height, roof pitch,
wind direction, and wind speed. As part
of this project, the exhausts will also be
modelled on a computer, using existing
numeric models describing flow fields
around houses. The wind tunnel data
will be used to validate the numeric mod-
els for this application.
The primary objective of both these stud-
ies is to determine whether conditions
exist under which the exhaust might
safely be discharged at grade level with-
out exposing persons in the house or
outdoors to elevated radon levels.
>• Bruce Henschel
Applied Research on the
Selection and Design of
Radon Reduction Systems for
Crawl-space Houses
This project will allow RMB to develop
better guidance on selecting and design-
ing mitigation approaches for crawl-space
houses. Relatively little information is now
available for this type of substructure.
Currently, a test matrix is being prepared
to evaluate the effects of design and
operating variables on the effectiveness
and costs of alternate methods. The first
phase of the research will be conducted
on a crawl-space test house operated by
Florida A&M University and Florida State
University.
Initial experiments will evaluate
three mitigation approaches—
sub-membrane depressurization
(SMD), crawl-space depressur-
ization, and natural crawl-space
ventilation;
varying house characteristics-
crawl space and living space
tightness, number and location
of open vents, and (for SMD) the
effect of gravel on the crawl-
space floor;
varying SMD design system
characteristics—ways to
distribute suction under the
membrane, degree of membrane
sealing, and membrane cover-
age; and
system operating variation (fan
speed).
For each test configuration, radon con-
centrations will be measured in the living
areas, crawl space, and foundation wall
cavities; system flows and suctions; and
pressure differentials between the house
zones and in the wall cavities. Tracer
gas tests will help assess the amount of
superstructure air in the SMD exhaust
and the impact on ventilation rates to
determine energy penalties. In all the
tests, an attic fan will simulate the natu-
ral stack effect in colder climates. Math-
ematical models will be used to try to
extrapolate the test results to houses of
different sizes, leakage areas, and other
characteristics.
>• Bruce Henschel
Updating Radon Mitigation
Technical Guidance for De-
tached Houses
The third edition of ORD's "Radon Re-
duction Techniques for Existing Detached
Houses" is nearing completion. This new
edition will reflect the vast amount of
additional data and new perspectives
that have been developed since the pre-
vious edition (EPA-625/5-87-019) was
published in January 1988. The third
edition focuses on ASD techniques, since
ASD is very widely used and consis-
tently effective. A large number of people,
representing all sectors of the radon miti-
gation community, reviewed the first draft,
and RMB has incorporated their com-
ments. The new edition will provide much
more detail on how to design and install
ASD systems. A full range of design
approaches will be presented, represent-
ing the successful practices of a wide
range of commercial mitigators across
the country. There will also be many
more illustrations to make it more of a
"how-to" document. This new guidance
should be available in late 1993.
>• Bruce Henschel
New House
Construction Research
Barometric Effects on Radon
Entry
Studies of potential radon control tech-
nologies in new dwellings are underway
at the University of Florida research
house in Gainesville as part of the Inter-
agency Florida Radon Research Pro-
3
gram (FRRP). This work is characteriz-
ing the environmental, structural, and
dynamic conditions that affect radon
transport and entry. Data collected and
analyzed over the past year show that
twice-daily barometric pressure changes
can be the major cause of radon entry
into slab-on-grade Florida houses. Fig-
ure 1 (from Hintenlang and AI-Ahmady's
1992 Radon Symposium paper: see Sec-
tion 2 of this Update) shows that indoor
radon concentrations increase as the
whole house pressure differential ap-
proaches zero in relation to the outdoor
pressure. The research house work clari-
fies and explains this observation by cor-
relating the pressure differential between
the house interior and under the slab
(the radon driving force) to observed
changes in barometric pressure. Figure
2 shows typical barometric pressures,
and Figure 3 shows pressure differen-
tials between the house and beneath the
slab. The University of Rorida is using
these research findings to determine
baseline dynamic conditions that radon
control systems based on HVAC house
pressurization must address to be effec-
tive.
>• David Sanchez
Radon Potential Maps Devel-
oped for Three Counties in
Florida
The Florida Radon Research Program
(FRRP) is developing land-based radon
potential maps to provide a geographic
basis for implementing radon-resistant
building construction standards. An in-
terdisciplinary team of engineers, soil
scientists, geologists, and geographic
information system specialists has de-
veloped and benchmarked approaches
for both large-scale (1:25,000) and small-
scale (1:250,000) radon potential map-
ping. The large-scale approach does not
appear to be more accurate than the
small-scale approach when compared
with "ground truth" data for Alachua
County.
FRRP has now used the small-scale
approach to develop maps of soil radon
potentials in millicuries per year and in-
door radon potentials (for a reference
house) in picocuries per liter on a sub-
county basis for Alachua, Marion, and
St. Johns Counties. Nine more Rorida
counties are being mapped this year,
and FRRP plans to map all the remain-
ing Rorida counties next year. The maps
contain color-coded radon potentials and
other information. Figures 4. 5, and 6
show the cumulative probability distribu-
tion of soil radon potentials for all the
subcounty areas (mapped as polygons)
-------
1600-
1400-
1 1200-
&
Jiooo^
s
I 800-
-------
2880
Time (min)
3600
Figure 3. Indoor/sub-slab differential pressure slab interior.
100
10
0.1
0.01
Marion County Florida
436 Map Polygons
JL
JL
_L
4320
5040
5760
X
D.
+ •
O
Q.
-8
£
*
-32 -2.4 -1.6 -0.8 0.0 0.8
Cumulative Probability (standard deviations)
1.6
2.4
3.2
Figure 4. Cumulative probability distribution of the radon potentials for all map polygons for Marion County.
5
-------
100
o
¥
I
10 •
0.1
0.01
St. Johns County Florida
172 Map Polygons
• o
-2
-1012
Cumulative Probability (standard deviations)
Figure S. Cumulative probability distribution of the radon potentials for all map polygons for St. Johns County.
100
§
E
I
10
0.1
0.01
Alachua County Florida
269 Map Polygons
-1 0 1
Cumulative Probability (standard deviations)
o 50% CL
+ 75% CL
D 90% CL
X 95% CL
& 99% CL
A.
X
Qi
XI
S
o.
as
Figure 6. Cumulative probability distribution of the radon potentials for all map polygons for Alachua County.
-------
in the three counties. Each of the five
lines is coded by a symbol representing
a different confidence level (CL). To help
in translating these maps into indoor ra-
don potential, a soil radon potential of 3
mCi/y corresponds to about 4 pCi/L in
the reference house. This mapping
method is applicable to identifying high-
radon potential areas and is being evalu-
ated by EPA's Office of Radiation and
Indoor Air (ORIA).
>• David Sanchez
Concrete Barrier Resistance
to Convective and Diffusive
Transport
Concrete floors and walls can help pre-
vent radon entry into buildings and, over
the last 2 years, the FRRP has been
investigating the actual degree of
concrete's radon resistance. A major part
of this research has been to develop
standard methods to test the diffusion
and permeability of concrete samples in
a laboratory setting. To accomplish this,
FRRP obtained concrete samples from
four primary construction regions in
Florida, and correlated their permeability
and diffusion with the mix, placement,
and curing practices typically used in the
Florida construction industry. Figure 7
shows radon permeability and diffusion
coefficient data for some Florida and two
concrete samples from elsewhere in the
country. Figure 8 shows that, as the
water to cement ratio rises, radon diffu-
sion also rises. Figure 9, which is based
on an analysis using the RAETRAD (ra-
don emanation and transport into dwell-
ings) computer code, shows that houses
on slabs with higher diffusion coefficients
could develop indoor radon concentra-
tions of a few picocuries per liter.
>• David Sanchez
Schools and Other
Large Buildings
Research
Technical Guidance for New
Construction of Schools
The new construction technical guidance
manual "Radon Prevention in the Design
and Construction of Schools and Other
Large Buildings" is now available. Cop-
ies have been distributed to the ten EPA
Regional Offices, the four Regional Ra-
don Training Centers, and the Office of
Radiation Programs. In addition, the
manual was sent to several architects
currently designing new schools and has
been warmly received.
As part of its effort to develop low-cost
radon-resistant construction techniques
for schools and other large buildings,
RMB is evaluating designs of active soil
depressurization (ASD) in several new
schools throughout the U. S.
>• A. B. "Chick" Craig
Characteristics of School
Buildings in the U. S
When planning its school radon research
program, RMB found that information on
the physical characteristics of school
buildings was limited. As a result, RMB
is characterizing the school building popu-
lation by using a nationally representa-
tive random sample of 100 schools from
EPA's National School Radon Survey
(NSRS). A detailed profile sheet was
used to collect information on the build-
ing structure, utility penetrations, types
0.8-
0.2-
X X
X
Test
•
RPR
+
Lake
=*
Gain
1E-17
1E-16
1E-15 1E-14
Permeability (m2)
1E-13
1E-12
Figure 7. Correlation plot of permeability and radon diffusion for Florida concrete samples.
7
-------
10-6l
10-7-
10-8-
10-9
M I I I I I I I I I I M I I I I I I I I M I I I I I M I I I
D RAE
* Acurex a
a
O Reference 18 - Shuman, 1988
• Reference 21-Culot, 1976
* * .
B
0.35
Ml I f I II I I M I I I I M I
0.40 0.45 0.50 0.55 0.60
I I I M I i M M i i
0.65 0.70
Concrete Water/Cement Ratio
RAE-104531
Shuman, R., Rogers, V.C., and Nielson, K.K., "Measurements of Culot, M.J.V., Olson, H.G., and Schiager, K.J., "Effective Diffusion
Concrete Properties for Low-Level Waste Disposal Facilities," Rogers Coefficient of Radon in Concrete, Theory, and Method for Field
& Associates Engineering Corporation report RAE-8716-3, Salt Lake Measurements," Health Physics 30 263-270,1976.
City, UT, 1988.
Figure 8. Regression of ambient-moisture radon diffusion measurements on the water/cement ratio of concrete.
of HVAC equipment, and other building
features that are important to radon di-
agnosis and mitigation. Information was
gathered from building plans where they
were available, and each school was
visited to verify that information and col-
lect any information missing from the
plans. Since many schools have several
separate buildings, often constructed at
different times, a separate profile was
completed for each structure.
RMB found that about half the school
structures in the study were built be-
tween 1950 and 1969, with about 20
percent built before and 30 percent built
after. Over 90 percent of the school struc-
tures use the conventional design of a
corridor with classrooms on either side.
About 45 percent of the structures are
less than 10,000 square feet, though
one in eight was more than 50,000 square
feet. Nearly 75 percent of the buildings
used slab-on-grade construction. Crawl
space and basement foundations account
for about 10 percent and 7 percent of the
structures, respectively, and about 10
percent of the schools surveyed have a
combination substructure. Two-thirds of
the structures are only one story.
Location of subslab footings and the pres-
ence of subslab aggregate are very im-
portant in designing a subslab depres-
surization (SSD) system for radon miti-
gation. Gravel (which improves the SSD
system's effectiveness) was indicated on
the plans for about 45 percent of the
structures with information available.
Many of the structures did not indicate
the subslab material on the plans or the
plans were not available. The remaining
structures indicated fine-grained mate-
rial (such as sand or earth) under the
slab. The location and number of subslab
footings are also important in determin-
ing subslab barriers for SSD systems.
Over half of the structures have no inter-
nal footings (typically post-and-beam con-
struction, facilitating SSD). However, 24
percent have footings between class-
rooms and along the corridor, complicat-
ing an SSD system installation. About a
third of the structures have overhead
utility lines, and another third have utility
lines either in tunnels or under the slab.
Central HVAC is the predominant type of
system, occurring in 71 percent of the
schools and 52 percent of the structures,
either alone or in combination with other
equipment. Radiant heat, including aban-
doned systems, is the second most com-
mon system, when counted by schools
(56 percent) or by structures (44 per-
cent). In terms of structural area, radiant
heat systems are as prevalent as central
HVAC systems. Unit ventilators and fan
coil systems (with no ventilation capabil-
ity) are less common than central HVAC
and radiant heat systems, each occur-
ring in approximately 30 percent of all
structures and 40 percent of all schools.
The results of this study are detailed in a
paper presented at the 1992 Interna-
tional Radon Symposium (see Section
2).
>• Kelly Leovic
-------
100-d
1-
0.01
J 1—I—I t I I I
J 1—I—I I I I
Diffusion Coefficients
of Concrete (m 2 s-1)
1. E-6
. + ' 2. E-7 ---'
3. E-8
7. E-9
1. E-9
Ra 226 in Concrete
= 1pCig-1
100
I I I I I ' I I I
1000
Radon Concentration in Soil Gas (pCiL-1)
10000
RAE-103425
Figure 9. Diffusive contributions to indoor radon concentrations for varying soil radon sources and five different radon diffusion coefficients.
Florida Large Building Study
This project is a cooperative effort be-
tween RMB and the State of Florida to
examine how radon concentrations and
indoor air pollution levels are affected by
building ventilation dynamics and build-
ing air system conditions, including mix-
ing and leakage rates of typical residen-
tial, commercial, and public structures
and HVAC components. The ventilation
dynamics inherent to a building to dilute
radon and indoor air pollution and over-
come soil gas entry forces are being
analyzed with the Florida Solar Energy
Center computer model, and diagnostic
and mitigation protocols are being devel-
oped. Two research sites have had newly
developed data collection stations and a
weather station installed. Measurements
of radon and carbon dioxide (CO2) con-
centrations, temperature, humidity, and
pressure within indoor building zones,
and subslab area and outdoor air intake
flow rates are being collected. The out-
door air intake will be adjusted from lev-
els of no outdoor air to recommended
ASHRAE indoor air quality standard lev-
els as a modification of pressurization
and dilution of the indoor air conditions.
Tracer gas active measurement injection
and detection points were placed in all
zones. Data from instruments are down-
loaded by computer modem connection
to allow for prompt evaluation and analy-
sis. Field investigations and model re-
finements will be used to generate guid-
ance for building construction contrac-
tors, and HVAC maintenance and de-
sign firms.
>• Marc Menetrez
New Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
Monitoring Stations Designed
for Indoor Air Studies
RMB has developed a new data station
for use in large buildings. As mentioned
above, it is being used as part of the
Florida Radon Research Program. Each
suitcase-sized station is capable of moni-
toring a single zone of a building, and
several stations can be easily installed
independently to monitor multiple zones.
The stations are self-contained; the data
are gathered by up to eight analog chan-
nels (two temperature, two pressure, a
CO. monitor, a relative humidity monitor,
and two spares), three radon counters,
and two switches for motor-on time and
door position. The information can be
stored as 30-minute averages for up to
20 days and downloaded to a portable
computer or accessed by a remote com-
puter over telephone lines.
>• Bruce Harris
-------
Section 2: Publications and Additional Information
Feedback on the Update
Your comments and suggestions on the Update are important.
The intent of the Update is to provide information that you
consider useful. Several readers have pointed out that the
Update helps them stay up-to-date on radon topics. RMB
wants the Update to meet your expectations as much as
possible, so please write and let us know what you think.
New I A Q Newsletter
EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD) is begin-
ning a newsletter entitled Inside IAQ. This newsletter will cover
the technical aspects of indoor air research conducted in the
four ORD components in Research Triangle Park, North Caro-
lina: Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory (AEERL),
Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory
(AREAL), Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office
(ECAO), and Health Effects Research Laboratory (HERL).
Inside MQwill be distributed approximately twice a year, in the
spring and fall, with its primary goals being to communicate
results from all of ORD's indoor air research and to provide
sources of more detailed technical information. Each issue of
Inside IAQ will contain radon mitigation research information
as one of the many IAQ topics it covers; however, the Radon
Mitigation Research Update will continue to provide an in-
depth review of all radon mitigation research to meet the
needs of the radon mitigation industry.
If you would like to be added to the mailing list to receive Inside
IAQ, please mail or fax your name and address (or a business
card) to the address below:
Inside IAQ
ATTN: Kelly Leovic (MD-54)
U. S. EPA/AEERL
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
FAX: (919) 541-2157
1992 International Symposium on
Radon and Radon Reduction
Technology
The 1992 Radon Symposium was held September 22-25 in
Minneapolis, Minnesota. AEERL was a cosponsor, along with
EPA's Office of Radiation Programs (ORP) and the Confer-
ence of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD), Inc.
More than 380 persons attended, representing government,
radon measurement companies, radon mitigation companies,
research organizations, academia, construction companies,
real estate and relocation companies, and schools. Seventeen
countries were represented, providing opportunity for an inter-
national exchange of information on a variety of topics relating
to indoor radon and its control.
In all, 72 oral papers and 37 poster papers were presented in
12 areas:
Radon-Related Health Studies covered current health
effects and epidemiology studies to assess the risk of
indoor radon.
Federal Programs and Policies Relating to Radon
provided information on the progress of U. S. radon
programs and policies.
State and Local Programs and Policies Relating to
Radon discussed the experiences of state and local
government bodies in dealing with radon in schools,
real estate transactions, and targeting areas of high
radon risk.
Creating Public Action covered current federal and
state programs to motivate public awareness and
action on radon, including targeted information
programs, overcoming public denial, addressing radon
issues when relocating employees, and the results of
a national radon advertising campaign.
Radon Measurement Methods dealt with current and
developing technologies to measure radon and radon
progeny.
Transport and Entry Dynamics of Radon focused on
current work in modelling and measurement of radon
transport through soil, radon entry into structures, and
interior house dynamics.
Radon Reduction Methods described various ways to
reduce radon levels in existing houses, including
innovative methods and assessments of current
technologies.
Radon Occurrence in the Natural Environment
provided results from studies of geologic factors that
influence radon emanation.
Radon Surveys provided results of radon measure-
ment surveys and the status of radon-potential
mapping in the United States.
Radon in Schools and Other Large Buildings pre-
sented information on mitigation techniques and
measurements methods applicable to large structures.
Radon Prevention in New Construction discussed the
latest technology and results of constructing radon-
resistant housing.
Radon in Water covered risk assessment, surveys,
and measurement methods.
The proceedings were published in three volumes and are
available from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS)
at the address given below. Volume 1 (EPA-600/R-93-083a;
NTIS PB93-196194) contains oral presentation papers for the
opening session and technical sessions I-VI; Volume 2 (EPA-
600/R-93-083b; NTIS PB93-196202) contains oral presenta-
tion papers for technical sessions VII-XII; and Volume 3 (EPA-
600/R-93-083c; NTIS PB93-196210) contains poster presen-
tation papers for all sessions.
>• Tim Dyess
10
-------
Recent RMB Publications
This section lists RMB reports, symposium papers, manuals,
and journal articles published since the last Update. All publi-
cations with NTIS numbers are available (prepaid) from
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
(703) 487-4650 or (800) 553-6847.
If you would like more information on these publications or
explanations concerning information contained in them, you
may contact your EPA Regional Office (addresses and phone
numbers are given after the publications) or the appropriate
project officer.
EPA Reports
Radon Pressure Differential Project, Phase I, Florida Radon
Research Program. D. Sanchez (project officer), EPA-600/R-
92-008 (NTIS PB92-148519), January 1992.
Recommended HVAC Standard of the Florida Radon Re-
search Program. D. Sanchez (project officer), EPA-600/R-92-
010 (NTIS PB92-147909), January 1992.
Simplified Modeling of Air Flow Dynamics in SSD Radon
Mitigation Systems for Residences with Gravel Beds. R. Mosley
(project officer), EPA-600/R-92-090 (NTIS PB92-195635). May
1992.
The Effects of Natural and Forced Basement Ventilation on
Radon Levels in Single Family Dwellings. T. Dyess (project
officer), EPA-600/R-92-102 (NTIS PB92-192194), June 1992.
Modeling Radon Entry in Florida Houses with Concrete Slabs
and Concrete-Block Stem Walls. D. Sanchez (project officer),
EPA-600/R-92-119 (NTIS PB92-201128), June 1992.
HVAC Systems in the Current Stock of U. S. K-12 Schools. T.
Dyess (project officer), EPA-600/R-92-125 (NTIS PB92-
218338), July 1992.
Manuals
Radon Prevention in the Design and Construction of Schools
and Other Large Buildings. Prepared by K. Leovic and A. B.
Craig. EPA/625/R-92/016. January 1993.
Reference Manual for RASSMIT, Version 2.1—A Sub-slab
Depressurization System Design Performance Simulation Pro-
gram (Manual and Software). D. Sanchez (project officer),
EPA-600/R-93-027, February 1993.
Journal Publications
Indoor Radon Reduction in Crawl-Space Houses: A Review of
Alternative Approaches. D. B. Henschel. Indoor Air, December
1992.
Proceedings
Symposium Papers from the 1992 International Symposium
on Radon and Radon Reduction Technology, Sponsored by
U. S. EPA and the CRCPD, Minneapolis, MN, September
1992:
Model Based Pilot Scale Research Facility for Studying
Production, Transport, and Entry of Radon Into Struc-
tures, R. B. Mosley, EPA. Volume 1, EPA-600/R-93-
083a, pp. 6-123 - 6-140 (May 1993).
Design of Radon Reduction Techniques for Crawl-Space
Houses: Assessment of the Existing Data Base, D. Bruce
Henschel. EPA. Volume 2. EPA-600/R-93-083b, pp. 7-57 -
7-78 (May 1993).
Multiple Mitigation Approaches Applied to a School with Low
Permeability Soil, D. Bruce Harris. EPA, and R. Stilwell, Maine
Dept. of Human Services. Volume 2, EPA-600/R-93-083b, pp.
10-83-10-97 (May 1993).
Comparison of ASD and HVAC System Control in School
Buildings, Bobby E. Pyle, Southern Research Institute. Kelly
W. Leovic, Timothy M. Dyess, and D. Bruce Harris, EPA.
Volume 2, EPA-600/R-93-083b, pp. 10-111 10-134 (May
1993).
Effectiveness of HVAC Systems for Radon Control in Schools,
Kelly W. Leovic, A. B. Craig, and Timothy M. Dyess, EPA,
Bobby E. Pyle, Southern Research Institute. Volume 2, EPA-
600/R-93-083b, pp. 10-135-10-150 (May 1993).
Radon Prevention in Construction of Schools and Other Large
Buildings—Status of EPA's Program, A. B. Craig, D. Bruce
Harris, and Kelly W. Leovic, EPA. Volume 2, EPA-600/R-93-
083b,pp.10-151 -10-171 (May 1993).
The Effect of Radon-Resistant Construction Techniques in a
Crawlspace House, C. S. Dudney, D. L Wilson, Oak Ridge
National Laboratory, and Timothy M. Dyess, EPA. Volume 2,
EPA-600/R-93-083b, pp. 11 -3 - 11 -23 (May 1993).
An Evaluation of Radon-Resistant New Construction Tech-
niques and Practical Limits of Radon Reduction Using a
Modified Residential HAC System, Mike Clarkin, Terry Brennan,
Camroden Associates, and Bill Brodhead, WPB Enterprises.
Volume 2, EPA-600/R-93-083b, pp. 11 -37 -11 -49 (May 1993).
A Mathematical Model Describing Radon Entry Aided by an
Easy Path of Migration Along Underground Channels, R. B.
Mosley, EPA. Volume 3, EPA-600/R-93-083c, pp. P6-11 - P6-
25 (May 1993).
Solar Fresh Air Ventilation for Radon Reduction, Monty Holmes,
Intermountain Radon Service, and Kelly W. Leovic, EPA.
Volume 3, EPA-600/R-93-083c, pp. P10-3 P10-18 (May
1993).
Characteristics of School Buildings in the U. S., Harry
Chmelynski, S. Cohen & Associates, and Kelly W. Leovic,
EPA. Volume 3. EPA-600/R-93-083c, pp. P10-19 - P10-37
(May 1993).
Investigation of Foundation Construction Details to Facilitate
Subslab Pressure Field Extension in Large Buildings. Mike
Clarkin, Camroden Associates, Inc., Kelly W. Leovic, EPA,
and Fred McKnight, H. L Turner Group. Volume 3. EPA-600/
R-93-083C, pp. P10-61 - P10-81 (May 1993).
11
-------
EPA Regional Offices
NOTE: Telephone numbers shown are direct lines to Regional Radon Representatives,
except in the case of Region 5, where 800 numbers are available.
Region 1
(CT. ME, MA, NH, Rl. VT)
JFK Federal Building
Boston, MA 02203
(617) 565-3231
Region 2
(NJ. NY)
26 Federal Plaza
New York, NY 10278
(212) 2640546
Region 3
(DE, DC. MD. PA, VA. WV)
841 Chestnut Building
Philadelphia. PA 19107
(215) 597-8326
Region 4
(AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC. SC, TN)
345 Courtland St. N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30365
(404) 347-3907
Regions
(IL, IN. Ml, MN. OH. Wl)
77 West Jackson Blvd.
Chicago. IL 60604
From IN, Ml. OH. MN. and Wl:
(800) 621-8431
From IL:
(800) 572-2515
Region 6
(AR. LA. NM. OK, TX)
1445 Ross Avenue
Dallas. TX 75202
(214) 655-7550
Region 7
(IA. KS, MO. NE)
726 Minnesota Avenue
Kansas City, KS 66101
(913) 551-7260
Regions
(CO, MT, ND. SD. UT. WY)
999 18th Street
Denver Place, Suite 500
Denver, CO 80202-2405
(303) 293-1440
Region 9
(AZ. CA. HI. NV)
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco. CA 94105
(415) 744-1046
Region 10
(AK. ID. OR. WA)
1200 Sixth Avenue
Seattle. WA 98101
(206) 553-7299
State Radon Contacts
Alabama
James McNees
(205)242-5315
(800)582-1866
Florida
Alaska
Charles Tedford
(907)465-3019
(800)478-4845
Arizona
John Stewart
(602)255-4845
Arkansas
Lee Gershner
(501)661-2301
California
J. David Quinton
(916)324-2208
(800) 745-7236
Colorado
Linda Martin
(303) 692-3057
(800) 846-3986
Connecticut
Alan J. Siniscalchi
(203)566-3122
Delaware
Maria Rejai
(302) 739-3028
(800) 554-4636
District of Columbia
Robert Davis
(202)727-7106
N. Michael Gilley
(904)488-1525
(800) 543-8279
Georgia
Richard Schreiber
(404) 894-6644
(800)745-0037
Hawaii
Idaho
Russell Takata
(808) 586-4700
Pat McGavam
(208) 334-6584
(800)445-8647
Illinois
Richard Allen
(217)524-5641
(800)325-1245
Indiana
Iowa
Lorand Magyar
(317)633-8563
(800)272-9723
Donald A. Plater
(515)281-3478
(800) 383-5992
Kansas
Harold Spiker
(913)296-1561
Kentucky
Jeana Phelps
(502)564-3700
12
Louisiana
Matt Schlenker
(504) 925-7042
(800) 256-2494
Maine
Bob Stilwell
(207)287-5676
(800)232-0842
Maryland
Leon J. Rachuba
(410)631-3301
(800)872-3666
Massachusetts
William J. Bell
(413)586-7525
(800)445-1255
Michigan
Sue Handershott
(517)335-8194
Minnesota
Laura Oatman
(612)627-5480
(800) 798-9050
Mississippi
Silas Anderson
(601)354-6657
(800)626-7739
Missouri
Gary McNutt
(314)751-6083
(800)669-7236
-------
Montana
Adrian C. Howe
(406)444-3671
Nebraska
Joseph Milone
(402)471-2168
(800)334-9491
Nevada
Stan Marshall
(702) 687-5394
New Hampshire
David Chase
(603)271-4674
(800) 852-3345 x 4674
New Jersey
Tonalee Carlson Key
(609) 987-6369
(800) 648-0394
New Mexico
Ron Mitchell
(505) 827-4300
New York (State Health)
William J. Condon
(518)458-6495
(800)458-1158
North Carolina
Felix Fong
(919)571-4141
North Dakota
Arlen Jacobson
(701)221-5188
Ohio
Marcie Matthews
(614)644-2727
(800) 523-4439
Oklahoma
Gene Smith
(405)271-5221
Oregon
George Toombs
(503)731-4014
Pennsylvania
Michael Pyles
(717)783-3594
(800) 237-2366
Puerto Rico
David Saldana
(809) 767-3563
Rhode Island
Edmond Arcand
(401)277-2438
South Carolina
Albert Craft
(803)734-4631
(800) 768-0362
South Dakota
Mike Pochop
(605) 773-3351
(800) 438-3367
Tennessee
Susie Shimek
(615)532-0733
(800)232-1139
Texas
Utah
Gary Smith
(512)834-6688
John Hultquist
(801)536-4250
Vermont
Paul demons
(802) 828-2886
(800) 640-0601
Virginia
Chris Dixon
(804) 786-5932
(800)468-0133
Washington
Kate Coleman
(206)753-4518
(800) 323-9727
West Virginia
Beattie L. DeBord
(304) 558-3526
(800)922-1255
Wisconsin
Conrad Weiffenbach
(608) 267-4796
(800) 798-9050
Wyoming
Janet Hough
(307)777-6015
(800) 458-5847
13
&U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: IMS - TSCMm/SOOW
------- |