Waterborne radon in seven Maine schools

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Radiological Protection
• Indoor Air Quality

Background:

• Radon (Rn) is a radioactive gas that can enter buildings from water.
• Understanding radon transfer from water to air is crucial for assessing inhalation exposure.
• Previous studies have not specifically focused on radon transfer in school environments in Maine.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the radon transfer coefficient from water to air in school kitchens and bathrooms.
• To establish a method for estimating potential doses from waterborne radon in educational facilities.
• To provide baseline data for radon exposure assessment in Maine schools.

Main Methods:

• Conducted simulations in water use rooms (kitchens, bathrooms) in seven Maine schools.
• Measured radon concentration in water and air using multiple airborne radon detectors.
• Recorded water usage volume, emissivities, and ventilation rates.

Main Results:

• Calculated radon transfer coefficients ranged from 9.6 x 10(-6) to 2.0 x 10(-2).
• Observed variations in radon concentration within rooms using multiple detectors.
• Quantified key parameters influencing radon transfer, including water concentration (10-960 Bq L(-1)) and air concentration (0-3 Bq L(-1)).

Conclusions:

• The study provides the first measurements of radon transfer in Maine schools.
• The calculated transfer coefficients and methodology enable dose estimation from waterborne radon.
• Findings support improved indoor air quality assessments in school environments.