View source for Exposure to Radon at Home

[[Image:IndoorRadon.png | right | 350px | link= ]]

<span style= "font-size:110%;">'''It’s important to [[Measuring and Reducing Radon Levels in your Home|measure the radon in your home, and to take simple steps if you find that it is high.]]''' </span>

Radon in homes originates from the soil and rock surrounding it, and sometimes from building materials.

Often, the pressure indoors is lower than the pressure in the soil, which naturally draws soil gas into the home.

Other factors influencing radon levels in the home include: the soil composition and radon concentration, the area of the building in contact with the ground, the air-tightness of the building, the floor level and size of rooms, and lifestyle choices like opening windows and doors.

'''Typical Radon Levels'''

Typically, the average radon concentration in outdoor air is around 10 [[Radon: Units of Measure|Bq/m<sup>3</sup>]], although it be as low as 1 [[Radon: Units of Measure|Bq/m<sup>3</sup>]] in some places and higher than 100 [[Radon: Units of Measure|Bq/m<sup>3</sup>]] in others.

Indoors, average radon concentrations are usually higher, averaging around 50 [[Radon: Units of Measure|Bq/m<sup>3</sup>]], with some places less than 10 [[Radon: Units of Measure|Bq/m<sup>3</sup>]] and others 10,000 [[Radon: Units of Measure|Bq/m<sup>3</sup>]] or more.

Governments usually set [[Radon Recommendations for Authorities|reference levels for indoor radon]] in the 100-300 [[Radon: Units of Measure|Bq/m<sup>3</sup>]] range

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==<span class="mw-collapsible-headline">Quotes from ICRP Publications</span>==

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'''''Publication 126'' paragraph 22-25'''
<blockquote>While the radon concentration from soil to outdoor air is diluted rapidly, this is not the case if the flux enters closed premises such as dwellings … there is a pressure differential between the soil and the foundations of the building. This causes an enhanced flow of radon-rich soil air...

The transfer of radon from the soil to buildings depends on several parameters:
*the composition of the soil (chemistry, geology, soil moisture, and permeability to radon);
*the concentration of radon in the soil;
*the difference in pressure between inside and outside of the considered building or location, between the soil and the atmosphere surrounding the building, and between the soil and the lower rooms of the building;
*the area of building in contact with the ground; and
*the air tightness of the outer shell of the building, including the presence of cracks, pipe ducts, cable ducts, etc., especially in the floors and foundations of the building.

The transfer of radon within buildings also depends on several factors: 
*the circulation of air in the building depending on ventilation and air conditioning;
*the meteorological and seasonal parameters, mainly the temperature difference between outside and inside air;
*the floor level and the size of the rooms; and
*the lifestyle choices, such as opening doors and windows, and the working habits of the building occupants.

Radon can be released from [building] materials into the surrounding air. … However, in the majority of cases, this source of radon is of secondary importance… </blockquote>

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==See Also==

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<ul mode=nolines> 
<li style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: top;"> 
[[File:ICRPGuide.JPG|thumb|none|100px|link=ICRPædia Guide to Radon|<center>[[ICRPædia Guide to Radon]]</center>]]
</li>

<li style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: top;">
[[File:RadonSeeAlso3.jpg|thumb|none|130px|link=http://www.icrp.org/publication.asp?id=ICRP%20Publication%20115 |
<center>[http://www.icrp.org/publication.asp?id=ICRP%20Publication%20115 ICRP ''Publication 115'' Lung Cancer Risk from Radon and Progeny and Statement on Radon]</center>]]
</li>

<li style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: top;"> [[File:RadonSeeAlso5.jpg|thumb|none|200px|link=http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs291/en/| <center>[http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs291/en/ WHO Factsheet on Indoor Radon]</center>]]
</li>

<li style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: top;">
[[File:RadonSeeAlso2.jpg|thumb|none|200px|link={{filepath:ICRPRadonSummary.pdf}}|<center>[[Media:ICRPRadonSummary.pdf |Expert Summary of ICRP Recommendations on Radon]]</center>]]
</li>

<li style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: top;">
[[File:RadonSeeAlso4.jpg|thumb|none|150px|link=http://www.icrp.org/publication.asp?id=ICRP%20Publication%20126|<center>[http://www.icrp.org/publication.asp?id=ICRP%20Publication%20126 ICRP ''Publication'' 126 Radiological Protection against Radon Exposure]</center>]]
</li>

<li style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: top;">
[[File:RadonSeeAlso6.jpg|thumb|none|150px|link=http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/44149/1/9789241547673_eng.pdf|<center>[http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/44149/1/9789241547673_eng.pdf WHO Handbook on Indoor Radon]</center>]]
</li>

<li style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: top;">
[[File:Unep.jpeg|thumb|none|110px|link=https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/7790;jsessionid=E71B4A7CFB4A79AB88CAC19654B2CBF7|<center>[https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/7790;jsessionid=E71B4A7CFB4A79AB88CAC19654B2CBF7 UNEP report on Radiation Effects and Sources]</center>]]
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