Radon daughter deposition velocities estimated from field measurements

The surface deposition rate (plateout) of unattached radon daughters was estimated from simple surface activity measurements in a number of occupied buildings, and found to be about one third of the lowest value measured in diffusion tube experiments. This low value was confirmed by surface deposition and activity measurements made in a commercial building with high radon levels, which also showed that the deposition rate was higher on walls than on floors or tables. Predictions of the ratio between airborne and surface-deposited radon daughter activity using the estimated surface deposition rate were close to the ratios observed in occupied homes. Refinements to existing models are required to explain the variability of deposition rate with surface orientation.