Radon in Houses

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Radon in Houses

• By Brenda Stanek, Wo Yuen and
• Dave Chorney
• SRC Analytical Laboratories
• October 30, 2008

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Agenda

• Introduction
• Radon study of Saskatoon homes
• Results and statistics
• Conclusion
• Questions??

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Introduction

• SRC Analytical
• What is Radon?
• New Health Canada Guidelines for indoor air

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SRC Analytical Laboratories

• A business unit within SRC
• 55 staff
• -scientists, technologists, technicians,
  support staff
• 4 laboratories
• -Inorganics
• -ICP
• -Organics
• -Radiochemistry (including SLOWPOKE)

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Radiochemistry

• Gross alpha, beta
• Specific isotopes
• Drinking water guidelines
• Radon
• Neutron Activation Analysis

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Radon

• Radioactive gas
• Decay of Uranium
• Colorless, odorless, tasteless

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New Health Canada Guidelines

• Lowered from 800 Bq/m3
• to 200 Bq/m3
• The higher the level, the sooner remedial action
  should be taken
• ALARA
• New dwellings should be constructed to minimize
  Rn entry

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Radon Study

• 22 Locations in Saskatoon and area
• 3 types of detectors
• All in duplicate
• 8 week period from March 7th to May 5th, 2008

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Neighbourhoods of Saskatoon

• West Side East Side
• Westview Willow Grove
• Silverwood Arbor Creek
• River Heights College Park
• Caswell Briarwood
• Westmount Brevoort Park
• Holiday Park Varsity View
• Montgomery Churchill
• Pacific Heights Haultain
• Meadow Green Exhibition
• Richmond Heights Forest Grove
• Outside city limits Hepburn, South Corman Park

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Detectors

• Short Term
• -charcoal canister
• Long Term
• -electret
• -alpha track

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Charcoal Canister
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Scintillation Counter
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Electret Ion Chamber
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Passive Alpha Track
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Comparison of Detectors

• Type of Detector Average, Bq/m3 Range
• Charcoal canister 109 30-318
• Alpha Track 117 37-244
• Electret 110 40-220

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Reproducibility of Duplicates

• Charcoal canister 14 (0-50)
• Alpha Track 15 (0-60)
• Electret 7 (0-20)

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Limit of Detection, Bq/m3

• Charcoal Canister 15
• Alpha Track 20
• Electret 15

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Factors Affecting Radon Levels

• Soil Type
• Age of house
• Construction materials
• Weather

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Radon Levels- West Side of Saskatoon
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Radon Levels- East Side of Saskatoon
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Weekly Average Radon Levels
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Weather Data
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Conclusions

• Detectors
• Area of city
• Age of House
• Weather

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Questions???