Spatial and temporal variations in indoor radon concentrations in Pennsylvania, USA from 1988 to 2018. (July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kellenbenz, Kyle R.; Shakya, Kabindra M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental radioactivity. Volume 233(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-07
• Subjects: Indoor air -- Radon -- Pennsylvania -- Housing types -- Fracking; Radioactivity -- Periodicals; Radiation, Background -- Periodicals; Radioecology -- Periodicals; Radioactive pollution -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollutants -- Periodicals; Radioactive Pollutants -- Periodicals; Radioactivity -- Periodicals; Radioécologie -- Périodiques; Pollution radioactive -- Périodiques; Fond de rayonnement -- Périodiques; 539.752
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2021.106594
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0265-931X

Abstract

Abstract: Indoor radon poses one of the most significant environmental threats to public health as it is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Developing a more thorough understanding of the factors that affect radon concentrations is key for developing risk maps, identifying where testing should be a priority, and education about indoor radon exposure. The objectives of this study are to investigate seasonal and annual variation of indoor radon concentrations in Pennsylvania, USA from 1988 to 2018, to explore the hotspot areas for high indoor radon concentrations, and to analyze the association with various factors such as weather conditions, housing types, and floor levels. Based on a total of 1, 808, 294 radon tests conducted from 1988 to 2018, we found that 61% of the area (by zip codes), 557, 869 tests conducted in the basement and 49, 141 tests conducted on the ground floor in homes in Pennsylvania had higher radon levels than the U.S. EPA action level concentration of 148 Bq/m 3 (equivalent to 4 pCi/L). Winter and fall had significantly higher indoor radon concentrations than summer and spring. Case studies conducted in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Harrisburg showed that there was no significant correlation of daily temperature, precipitation, or relative humidity with indoor radon concentration on the day a radon test occurred. Highlights: 61% of zipcodes in Pennsylvania had high indoor radon concentration ≥ 148 Bq/m 3 . Major urban regions (Pittsburgh and Philadelphia) had low radon levels. Basements had higher radon levels than the ground floor.