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