Abstract
This report briefly summarizes major investigations of the occurrence and concentrations of uranium, radium-226, and radon-222 in ground water, rock and soil, and indoor air in the six New England States, New York, and southern Ontario since the 1950’s. It includes tables of concentration data for each State and describes the major results of the 155 studies cited. The first studies of radionuclides in the Northeast began in the 1950’s and 1960’s as uranium exploration. Through the 1970’s and 1980’s, the focus of research changed from uranium exploration to the occurrence and concentration of uranium, radium-226, and radon-222 in the ground water, rock and soil, and indoor air. This change in focus was prompted by the discovery that exposure to alpha-radiation-emitting daughter products from the radioactive decay of uranium was possibly a serious threat to human health. Radon-222 in ground water has been measured in concentrations greater than 1,000,000 picocuries per liter in Maine; the national average is 350 picocuries per liter. Uranium content of bedrock in the Northeast ranges from 0.001 to 0.400 percent by weight. Radium-226, the radioactive parent of radon-222, has been measured in various soils in New York and Ontario; concentrations ranged from 0.2 to 7.0 picocuries per gram. Radon-222 in indoor air has been measured in concentrations greater than 1,200 picocuries per liter in Maine. The Environmental Protection Agency suggests precautionary action be taken at an indoor air concentration of 4.0 picocuries per liter.
Published Version
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