Factors underlying persistently high radon levels in a house located in a karst limestone region of Ireland : lessons learned about remediation

• Autorzy: Long S. C. , Fenton D. , Scivyer C. , Monahan E.

Identyfikatory

DOI

10.1515/nuka-2016-0054

• Konferencja: International Conference „Radon in the Environment” (2nd ; 25-29.05.2015 ; Kraków, Poland)
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

The remediation of buildings with elevated radon concentrations is generally straightforward. However, in some cases a number of attempts may be needed to reduce concentrations to below the reference level and, occasionally, it may be impossible to reduce concentrations to below the reference level in a cost effective way. This paper details the work carried out between 2004 and 2012 to reduce radon concentrations in a house with initial radon concentrations of almost 1500 Bq/m3. Over this period, high radon levels were consistently recorded despite the introduction of various radon remedial measures. Remedial work was carried out on ten occasions with 29 radon tests carried out to measure the effect of this work. The paper describes the structure of the house and the karst geology that it is built on and the likely contribution of these factors to the difficulties encountered reducing concentrations. Ultimately, radon concentrations were reduced to about 450 Bq/m3 but no further reductions were considered practicable without substantial and costly renovation to the house. Nonetheless, the remedial work carried out to date has resulted in a significant reduction in the risk to the homeowner of developing lung cancer. This work has also added to the understanding of radon remediation techniques in Ireland, particularly for houses built on karst limestone.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

karst geology; lessons learned; radon; remediation methods

• Wydawca: Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology
• Czasopismo: Nukleonika
• Rocznik: 2016
• Tom: Vol. 61, No. 3
• Strony: 327--332
• Opis fizyczny: Bibliogr. 12 poz., rys.

Twórcy

autor

Long S. C.

• Office of Radiological Protection, Environmental Protection Agency, 3 Clonskeagh Sq., Clonskeagh Road, Dublin 14, Ireland, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone]

autor

Fenton D.

• Office of Radiological Protection, Environmental Protection Agency, 3 Clonskeagh Sq., Clonskeagh Road, Dublin 14, Ireland, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone]

autor

Scivyer C.

• Building Research Establishment, Bucknalls Lane, Watford WD25 9XX, United Kingdom

autor

Monahan E.

• All Clear Radon Ltd., Redshire Road, Murntown, Co. Wexford, United Kingdom

Bibliografia

• 1. Fennell, S., Mackin, G., Madden, J., McGarry, A., Duffy, J., O’Colmain, M., Colgan, P., & Pollard, D. (2002). Radon in dwellings, the Irish national radon survey. Dublin: Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland.
• 2. Canadian Cave and Karst Information. (1995). What is karst? Retrieved August 15, 2015, from http://www. cancaver.ca/docs/karst.htm.
• 3. Scivyer, C. (2011). Report of radon visit to Creagh Lodge, Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare. RPII Internal Report. Dublin: Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland.
• 4. Gammage, R., Dudney, C., Wilson, D., & Saultz, R. (1990). Transport studies of radon in limestone underlying houses. In Indoor air. 5th Internatioanl Conference on Indor Air Quality and Climate, 29 July – 3 August 1999, Toronto, Canada. Tennessee: ORNL.
• 5. Hughes, J., Turk, B., & Cardwell, R. (1998). Karst geology, radon fluctuations and implications for measurement and mitigation. In Radon in the Living Environment (5.1–5.30), Athens.
• 6. RPII. (2010). RPII protocol for the measurement of radon in homes. Dublin: Environmental Protection Agency.
• 7. Kelleher, K., McLaughlin, J., Fenton, D., & Colgan, P. (2010). A comparison of contemporary and retrospective radon gas measurements in high radon dwellings in Ireland. In International Congress of the International Radiation Protection Association, 2010, Vienna.
• 8. Hanley, O., Gutiérrez-Villanueva, J. L., Currivan, L., & Pollard, D. (2008). Assessment of the uncertainties in the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) radon measurement service. J. Environ. Radioact., 99, 1578–1582.
• 9. Scivyer, C. (2013). Buildings Research Establishment Good Repair GuideGRG 37, Part 3. Watford: BRE Publications.
• 10. Hodgson, S., Zhang, W., Bradley, E., Green, B., & McColl, N. (2011). An analysis of radon remediation methods. Didcot, UK: Health Protection Agency. (HPA-CRCE-019).
• 11. Fenton, D. (2011). Current remediation methods, rates and costs in Ireland. Retrieved August 15, 2015,from http://www.epa.ie/pubs/conferencesandevents/ nrf/nrfninth/RPII_For_Remed_11.pdf.
• 12. Dowdall, A. (2013). Remediation rate survey (internal report). Dublin: Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland.

Uwagi

PL

Opracowanie ze środków MNiSW w ramach umowy 812/P-DUN/2016 na działalność upowszechniającą naukę.