TECHNICAL PAPERS
Dec 1, 2000

Reduction of Indoor Radon by Air Cleaning—Case Study

Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 126, Issue 12

Abstract

A field study was conducted over an intermittent period of 2.5 years to determine whether air cleaning, using a portable high efficiency particulate air filter air cleaner with an activated carbon filter, was a viable method of reducing indoor radon levels. Past studies showed that air cleaners could reduce radon and/or radon progeny concentrations. The data collected in this study showed that the air cleaner did not reduce radon levels and so was not an effective mitigation device. The data also showed that above radon levels of 6 pCi/L there was a strong positive linear correlation to moisture content. Below 6 pCi/L there was essentially no correlation. Radon concentrations were determined using EPA approved commercial test kits that were occasionally run in duplicate. In these cases it was found that there was good reproducibility between the test kits over a range of levels from 1.1 to 14.5 pCi/L, with the average difference being under 10%.

Get full access to this article

View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.

References

1.
Henschel, D. B. ( 1988). “Radon reduction techniques for attached houses.” EPA/625/5-87/019, Ofc. of Air Radiation, Air and Energy Engrg. Res. Lab., U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
2.
Hinds, W. C., Rudnick, S. N., Maher, E. F., and First, M. W. ( 1982). “Control of indoor radon decay products by air treatment devices.” Annu. Air Pollution Control Assn. Conf.
3.
Hinds, W. C., Rudnick, S. N., Maher, E. F., and First, M. W. ( 1983). “Control of indoor radon decay products by air treatment devices.” J. Air Pollution Control Assn., 33, 134–136.
4.
Hines, A. L., Ghosh, T. K., Loyalka, S. K., and Warder, R. C. ( 1993). Indoor air: Quality and control, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.
5.
Kies, A., Biell, A., Rowlinson, L., and Feider, M. ( 1996). “Investigation of the dynamics of indoor radon and radon progeny concentration.” Environment Int., 22, S899–S904.
6.
Li, C. S., and Hopke, P. K. ( 1991). “Efficacy of air cleaning systems in controlling indoor radon decay products.” Health Phys., 61(6), 785–797.
7.
Maher, E. F., Rudnick, S. N., and Moeller, D. W. ( 1987). “Effective removal of airborne 222Rn decay products inside buildings.” Health Phys., 53(4), 351–356.
8.
Marcinowski, F. ( 1992). “EPA national residential radon survey.” EPA 402-R-92-011, Radon Div., U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
9.
Pirrone, N., and Batterman, S. A. (1995). “Cost-effective strategies to control radon in residences.”J. Envir. Engrg., ASCE, 121(2), 120–131.
10.
Rajala, M., Janka, K., Lehtimaki, M., Kulmala, V., and Graeffe, G. ( 1986). “The influence of an electrostatic precipitator and a mechanical filter on Rn decay products.” Health Phys., 50, 447–455.
11.
Rajala, M., Janka, K., Lehtimaki, M., Kulmala, V., Graeffe, G., and Keskinen, J. ( 1985). “The control of radon progeny by air treatment devices.” Sci. Total Environment, 45, 493–498.
12.
Rudnick, S. N., Hinds, W. C., Maher, E. F., and First, M. W. ( 1983). “Effect of plateout, air motion and dust removal on a radon decay product concentration in a simulated residence.” Health Phys., 45(5), 463–470.

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Journal of Environmental Engineering
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 126Issue 12December 2000
Pages: 1125 - 1130

History

Received: Jun 8, 1999
Published online: Dec 1, 2000
Published in print: Dec 2000

Permissions

Request permissions for this article.

Authors

Affiliations

P.E., Member, ASCE
Asst. Prof., Manhattan Coll., Riverdale, NY 10471.
Envir. Engr., U.S. Envir. Protection Agency, Region II, 290 Broadway, New York, NY, 10007.

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

Citations

Download citation

If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.

Cited by

View Options

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

Share

Share

Copy the content Link

Share with email

Email a colleague

Share