Geostatistically controlled field study of radon levels and the analysis of their spatial variation

Durrani, S.A.; Badr, I.

doi:10.1016/1350-4487(95)00185-h

Cited by 13 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 12 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In relation to radon and radioactivity, the units are not statistically different, but the trends are still important. This result is not uncommon in radon soil gas studies; soil radon values are very erratic over short distances in the order of a few metres (Durrani and Badr 1995); however, statistical analyses have shown that the larger scale variations in radon soil gas are determined by the underlying geology. Figure 10 presents the SRP value for each of the surficial geology units tested.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 93%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Radon soil gas in the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada

OʼBrien

Goodwin

Risk

2011

atgeol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Naturally occurring radon222 is found in measurable quantities in soil gas across Nova Scotia. Next to smoking, exposure to radon is the leading cause of lung cancer. This study identifies relationships between the permeability and composition of the soil, and the geology of the respective bedrock types within Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM). Over 280 radon soil gas samples from 60 sites were collected and analyzed using protocols developed for the North American Soil Geochemical Landscapes Project. This study focused on soil developed on glacial till over three major bedrock types: the Cambrian-Ordovician Goldenville and Halifax groups, and Devonian granite of South Mountain Batholith. All samples contained radon soil gas. Fine-grained leucomonzogranite samples returned the highest mean radon concentration of 51.0 kBq m − 3, followed by coarse-grained leucomonzogranite (50.2 kBq m − 3), monzogranite (44.3 kBq m − 3), slate (36.1 kBq m − 3), and metasandstone and Lawrencetown till, respectively 22.5 kBq m − 3 and 19.4 kBq m − 3. Analysis of the permeability readings was done in four major till types in HRM: granite (3.27 × 10 − 12 m2), metasandstone (5.84 × 10 − 12 m2), and slate facies (5.20 × 10 − 12 m2) of the Beaver River Till (BRT), and Lawrencetown Till (1.18 × 10 − 12 m2). The soil radon potential index (SRP), which is used to correlate soil gas and permeability readings with indoor radon potential, was applied to data collected for the HRM study area, where over 40% of Nova Scotia's population resides. The SRP index results show the granite facies of BRT returning the highest mean value of 34.5, followed by the slate facies (27.2) and metasandstone facies (15.1) of the BRT, and Lawrencetown Till (9.1). 1D soil-gas modeling demonstrated that it is unlikely that bedrock radon transport from depth alone can contribute to the concentrations measured at 60 cm; the overlying tills must also be producing radon. RÉSUMÉDu radon (Rn 222) à l'état naturel et en quantités mesurables est observé dans les gaz souterrains partout en Nouvelle-Écosse. Après le tabac, l'exposition au radon est la deuxième cause de cancer du poumon. Cette étude examine les liens entre la perméabilité et la composition du sol, ainsi que la géologie des divers types de substratum rocheux présents dans la Municipalité régionale d'Halifax (MRH). Plus de 280 échantillons de gaz souterrain de radon provenant de 60 endroits ont été recueillis et analysés selon des protocoles élaborés dans le cadre du projet des paysages géochimiques des sols d'Amérique du Nord. Cette étude a surtout porté sur le sol formé dans le till glaciaire de trois principaux genres de substratum rocheux: les groupes de Goldenville et d'Halifax du Cambrien-Ordovicien, et le granite du batholithe South Mountain, du Dévonien. Tous les échantillons contenaient du gaz de radon souterrain. Les échantillons de leucomonzogranite à grains fins ont produit la plus haute teneur moyenne de radon, soit 51,0 kBq m − 3, suivis en cela par les échantillons à grains grossiers de...

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…Coarser soil tends to have higher permeability relative to clay rich soil (Freeze and Cherry 1979). The higher the permeability, the easier soil gas can pass through the pore spaces and be detected.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radon soil gas in the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada

OʼBrien

Goodwin

Risk

2011

atgeol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…We also found that soil radon values near the homes were related to indoor radon levels in the homes but that soil radon measurements slightly farther away obtained at the same time were not. Previous studies have shown that both soil radon and indoor radon levels are spatially correlated, meaning that locations close to another are more likely to have similar values than locations farther apart [ 37 – 41 ], as are many other soil properties [ 42 ]. In that regard, it is not unexpected that near-home soil radon values are correlated with in-home radon values.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geologic, seasonal, and atmospheric predictors of indoor home radon values

Hahn

Haneberg

Stanifer

et al. 2023

Environ. Res.: Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Exposure to tobacco smoke and radon cause lung cancer. Radioactive decay of naturally occurring uranium in bedrock produces radon. Seasonality, bedrock type, age of home, and topography have been associated with indoor radon, but the research is mixed. The study objective was to examine the relationships of geologic (soil radon and bedrock) and seasonal (warm and cold times of the year) factors with indoor home radon values in citizen scientists’ homes over time, controlling for atmospheric conditions, topography, age of home, and home exposure to tobacco smoke. We collected and analyzed indoor radon values, soil radon gas concentrations, and dwelling- and county-level geologic and atmospheric conditions on 66 properties in four rural counties during two seasons: 1) summer 2021 (n = 53); and 2) winter/spring 2022 (n = 52). Citizen scientists measured indoor radon using Airthings radon sensors, and outdoor temperature and rainfall. Geologists obtained soil radon measurements using RAD7 instruments at two locations (near the dwelling and farther away) at each dwelling, testing for associations of indoor radon values with soil values, bedrock type, topography, and atmospheric conditions. Bedrock type, near soil radon levels, home age, and barometric pressure were associated with indoor radon. Dwellings built on carbonate bedrock had indoor radon values that were 2.8 pCi/L (103.6 Bq/m3) higher, on average, compared to homes built on siliclastic rock. Homes with higher near soil radon and those built < 40 ago were more likely to have indoor radon > 4.0 pCi/L (148 Bq/m3). With higher atmospheric barometric pressure during testing, observed indoor radon values were lower. Seasonality and topography were not associated with indoor radon level. Understanding relationships among bedrock type, soil radon, and indoor radon exposure allows the development of practical predictive models that may support pre-construction forecasting of indoor radon potential based on geologic factors.

show abstract

“…The elements that most affect the concentration of Rn in the soil and its transport are the nature of the rocks, their mineralogical composition, the concentration of the precursor elements (uranium, thorium and radio), the porosity, permeability, water content, the presence of faults and fractures and the presence of cavities (Porstendorfer 1994;Beaubien, Ciotoli, and Lombardi 2003). For these reasons, Rn risk assessment requires the knowledge of the geologic and lithological features of the study area, as well as of the permeability of the soil (Durrani and Badr 1995;O'Dea and Dowdall 1999;Oliver and Khayrat 2001;Rouhani and Dillon 1991;Miles and Appleton 2005;Cinelli et al 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radon Predictions withGeographical Information SystemCovariates: From Spatial Sampling to Modeling

Iaco

Maggio

Palma

2016

Geographical Analysis

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Radon (Rn) is a potentially toxic gas in soil which may affect human health. Assessing Rn levels in soil gas usually requires enormous efforts in terms of time and costs, since the sampling protocol is very complex. In most cases, the variable under study is sparsely sampled over the domain and this could affect the reliability of the spatial predictions. For this reason, it is useful to incorporate, into the estimation procedure, some auxiliary variables, correlated with the in soil gas Rn concentrations (primary variable) and more densely available over the domain. On the basis of this latter aspect, it is even better if the covariates are derived from a geographical information system (GIS). In this article, the Rn sampling protocol used during a measurement campaign planned over a risk area is described and the process of deriving GIS covariates considered as secondary information for predicting the primary variable is clarified. Then, multivariate modeling and prediction of the Rn concentrations over the domain of interest are discussed and a comparative study regarding the performance of the prediction procedures is presented. Rn prone areas are also analyzed with respect to urban and school density. All these aspects can clearly support decisions on environmental and human safeguard.

show abstract

Geostatistically controlled field study of radon levels and the analysis of their spatial variation

Cited by 13 publications

References 12 publications

Radon soil gas in the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada

Radon soil gas in the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada

Geologic, seasonal, and atmospheric predictors of indoor home radon values

Radon Predictions withGeographical Information SystemCovariates: From Spatial Sampling to Modeling

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About