Radon remediation studies in northern Virginia and southern Maryland

Abstract

A three year study of indoor radon in more than 1,000 homes in northern Virginia and southern Maryland was conducted by using three month-exposure alpha-track monitors In a study set of approximately 200 homes, first floor indoor radon concentrations, which most closely ap proximate home exposure levels, averaged slightly more than 3 pC1/L In a study set of approximately 100 homes, radon concentrations in the water supplies were < 10,000 pC1/L, and no evidence was found to indicate that the waterborne radon concentration was related to the airborne radon concentration In a study set of approximately 100 homes, subslab ventilation was used to reduce indoor radon concentrations Interest in remediation was related to public perception of radon hazard, in that people with indoor radon measurements of >4 pC1/L were more likely to participate in the reme diation phase of the project Subslab ventilation was successful in >90% of the homes in reducing indoor radon from concentrations as high as 30 pC1/L to <4 pC1/L, at least for the entire year of postremediation radon measurements