Radon transport into a detached one-story house with a basement

Nazaroff, William W.; Feustel, H.E.; Nero, A.V.; Revzan, K.L.; Grimsrud, D.T.; Essling, M A; Toohey, R.E.

doi:10.1016/0004-6981(85)90134-9

Cited by 102 publications

(76 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…A portion of the observed positive intercept could also be due simply to measurement error causing a regression toward the mean, but the absence of values very close to zero suggests that measurement error could not account for the entire amount. A positive intercept of similar magnitude ( 0.13-0.16 h À 1 ) for a multiple regression including wind speed and either pressure or temperature difference was also noted in the study of Nazaroff et al (1985) (our calculations based on their Table 2) .…”

Section: Effect Of Temperature and Windsupporting

confidence: 81%

“…A linear effect of temperature and wind velocity or the perpendicular component of wind velocity was noted. Nazaroff et al ( 1985 ) studied a single house in Chicago, measuring indoor and outdoor temperature, pressure, and air change rates over 15 consecutive weeks. Weekly average rates were well correlated with both pressure and temperature differences ( Spearman r= 0.74-0.75, P < 0.001 ), but not with wind speeds ( r= 0.25, P= 0.36) (our calculations from their Table 2 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Continuous measurements of air change rates in an occupied house for 1 year: The effect of temperature, wind, fans, and windows

Wallace

Emmerich

Howard-Reed

2002

J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol

231

139

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A year -long investigation of air change rates in an occupied house was undertaken to establish the effects of temperature, wind velocity, use of exhaust fans, and window -opening behavior. Air change rates were calculated by periodically injecting a tracer gas ( SF 6 ) into the return air duct and measuring the concentration in 10 indoor locations sequentially every minute by a gas chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector. Temperatures were also measured outdoors and in the 10 indoor locations. Relative humidity ( RH ) was measured outdoors and in five indoor locations every 5 min. Wind speed and direction in the horizontal plane were measured using a portable meteorological station mounted on the rooftop. Use of the thermostat -controlled attic fan was recorded automatically. Indoor temperatures increased from 218C in winter to 278C in summer. Indoor RH increased from 20% to 70% in the same time period. Windows were open only a few percent of the time in winter but more than half the time in summer. About 4600 hour -long average air change rates were calculated from the measured tracer gas decay rates. The mean ( SD ) rate was 0.65 ( 0.56 ) h À 1 . Tracer gas decay rates in different rooms were very similar, ranging only from 0.62 to 0.67 h À 1 , suggesting that conditions were well mixed throughout the year. The strongest influence on air change rates was opening windows, which could increase the rate to as much as 2 h À 1 for extended periods, and up to 3 h À 1 for short periods of a few hours. The use of the attic fan also increased air change rates by amounts up to 1 h À 1 . Use of the furnace fan had no effect on air change rates. Although a clear effect of indoor -outdoor temperature difference could be discerned, its magnitude was relatively small, with a very large temperature difference of 308C (548F ) accounting for an increase in the air change rate of about 0.6 h À 1 . Wind speed and direction were found to have very little influence on air change rates at this house.

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Section: Effect Of Temperature and Windsupporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Continuous measurements of air change rates in an occupied house for 1 year: The effect of temperature, wind, fans, and windows

Wallace

Emmerich

Howard-Reed

2002

J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol

231

139

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…A study evaluating radon entry into a house near Chicago, IL, found higher building underpressurizations and radon entry rates during winter compared with summer months, and an advective radon flux that was greater than the diffusive flux. 7 Another study found that average indoor radon levels were 12 times higher during winter compared with summer for 14 houses constructed on permeable soils in Spokane, WA. 12 The inferred reason for the difference was building underpressurization caused by the stack effect.…”

Section: Mechanisms For Soil Vapor Intrusionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several radon studies also suggest that radon intrusion by advection is typically a more significant process than is diffusion. [7][8][9][10] The most significant factors affecting the near-field compartment would therefore tend to be building underpressurization, the permeability of the building envelope and nearby soil, and depth to contamination.…”

Section: Mechanisms For Soil Vapor Intrusionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Use of Indoor Air Measurements To Evaluate Intrusion of Subsurface VOC Vapors into Buildings

Hers

Zapf-Gilje

et al. 2001

Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association

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The implementation of a risk-based corrective action approach often requires consideration of soil vapor migration into buildings and potential inhalation exposure and risk to human health. Due to the uncertainty associated with models for this pathway, there may be a desire to analyze indoor air samples to validate model predictions, and this approach is followed on a somewhat frequent basis at sites where risks are considered potentially significant. Indoor air testing can be problematic for a number of reasons. Soil vapor intrusion into buildings is complex, highly dependent on site-specific conditions, and may vary over time, complicating the interpretation of indoor air measurements when the goal is to deduce the subsurface-derived component. An extensive survey of indoor air quality data sets highlights the variability in indoor volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations and numerous sources that can lead to elevated VOC levels. The contribution from soil vapor is likely to be small relative to VOCs from other sources for most sites. In light of these challenges, we discuss how studies that use indoor air testing to assess subsurface risks could be improved. To provide added perspective, we conclude by comparing indoor air concentrations and risks arising from subsurface VOCs, predicted using standard model equations for soil vapor fate and intrusion into buildings, to those associated with indoor sources.

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“…In the Results section of this paper we present direct experimental evidence of soil-gas flushing at several test houses in New Jersey, and indicate that this depletion follows the trends predicted in our numerical simulations. Nazaroff et al (1985) instrumented a house in Illinois to monitor the effects of various environmental factors on radon entry rates. They concluded that when the indoor-outdoor temperature difference was small, high wind speeds were associated with higher radon entry rates, and conversely, when this temperature difference was large, low wind speeds produced higher radon entry rates.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%