Radon concentrations in five Pennsylvania soils

The Rn concentration in the interstitial soil air depends on the Rn emanation from the soil, the water content of the soil, and the volume of the interstitial air space. The Rn emanation, which depends on the type of soil and the water content of the soil, can vary greatly from soil to soil. The interstitial air space depends on the soil compaction and the water content of the soil, so the Rn concentration can vary greatly from one soil type to another as well as within a given soil type. The emanation characteristics and soil compactions are studied for five Pennsylvania soils and ranges of possible Rn concentrations are calculated. Possible Rn concentrations in the soils studied range from about 20 kBq m-3 to nearly 1 MBq m-3.