Predictability of radon airborne measurements based on surrogate measures [thesis]

Nirmalla Barros
This research focuses on the evaluation of temporal and spatial variability associated with radon airborne measurements and the predictive utility of surrogate measures to estimate radon concentrations within the same environment as well as in other environments. This dissertation consists of three components. In Chapter II, "Evaluation of agreement of time-integrated basement residential radon measurements and correctness of further radon testing indicators", we investigated the temporal
more » ... ility between short-term and annual residential radon measurements collected on the lowest livable level and identified housing/occupant factors that influenced each measurement as well as their differences. The false negative rate of how often the short-term test incorrectly indicated that further radon testing was unnecessary was 12 percent at the action level of 148 Bq m -3 , but dropped to two percent at a 74 Bq m -3 reference level. The foundation wall material of the basement was the only significant factor to have an impact on the absolute difference between both measurements. This study has the potential to significantly influence public health policy concerning radon testing protocols, specifically the need to re-assess the EPA's current radon mitigation guidance level of 148 Bq m -3 . In Chapter III, "Temporal and spatial variation associated with residential airborne radon measurements", we investigated the temporal and spatial variability between basement winter short-term and annual radon measurements performed in upper floors of the home and identified housing/occupant factors that influenced each measurement as well as their differences. This study found that individuals would be falsely overestimating their potential exposure to radon half the time at the EPA's action level of 148 Bq m -3 based on basement short-term tests and much more frequently (80 percent of the time) at a lower reference level of 74 Bq m -3 . The Abstract Approved: ____________________________________ Thesis Supervisor ____________________________________
doi:10.17077/etd.aqwyh3fi fatcat:wb6ds6sxpzbwjp3btihlkzpjg4