From Name
Phillip H. Jenkins

BODY{font:10pt Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif;}I've seen data from instances of extreme rain (like flooding of a region that more or less is on top of a gravel pit that hasn't been dug out yet, in other words saturating highly fractured rock with water)  that caused a huge burst of radon, causing indoor (and outdoor) radon concentrations to exceed 100 pCi/liter.  But, on the other hand, it may be that under a different set of geology and soil conditions, rain might have the opposite effect.  I don't know. 
 
I have seen data when a hurricane was passing through the northeast, where a continuous monitor went from low (like below 4) to well above 100 pCi/liter, indoors during a normal test, and then back down again, over the course of 24 hours or so.  This is an extreme condition that caused the indoor radon to be elevated.  Do all storm fronts cause indoor to be elevated?  I don't know.  Could a storm front cause indoor radon to be decreased?  I don't know.
 
I think it is dangerous to generalize about radon because there are so many variables.  I think the point of the protocols is that when weather conditions are so severe as to be significantly different from the "norm" whatever that is, then this is a time when the test is suspect, and probably should be repeated.  Now, we all know that there are many problems with the protocols, and this is why we need consensus standards (that must be reviewed periodically and modified as appropriate).  My recollection is that the protocols do not give a lot of specific guidance as to what is significantly different from the "norm."  And even if they do, what was it based on?  That was over 15 years ago.  Do we have data in the meantime that would clarify or refine the guidance?
 
There is still so much work to be done.
 
Just my 2 this morning,
Phil
 
 
 
 Phillip H. Jenkins, PhD, CHPSenior Health PhysicistBowser-Morner, Inc.Mail: P.O. Box 51 - Dayton, OH 45401Delivery: 4514 Taylorsville Road - Dayton, OH 45424Voice: (937) 236-8805 x248Fax: (937) 233-2024E-mail: pjenkins@bowser-morner.comWeb: www.bowser-morner.com
From: Dave Hill [mailto:dhill@SPRUCE.COM]To: RADONPROFESSIONALS@LIST.UIOWA.EDUSent: Wed, 27 May 2009 08:46:23 -0400Subject: Re: [RNPROF] rain events
The protocols for testing cannot be ignored if the test is below 4 pCi/l. If the proper conditions were not met, the test should be redone. When building a home, you cannot say it is okay to use undersized floor joists because the house did not collapse. Standards and protocols are adopted to help lessen the chance of error in result reporting (high or low) and increase the ability to perform testing in similar controlled (repeatable) conditions.
 
 
My 2,
Dave Hill
From: International Web Resource for Radon Professionals [mailto:RADONPROFESSIONALS@LIST.UIOWA.EDU] On Behalf Of Al GerhartSent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 12:06 AMTo: RADONPROFESSIONALS@LIST.UIOWA.EDUSubject: Re: [RNPROF] rain events
Interesting, my experiences with our radon room and granite countertops are that high wind conditions or storm fronts entering or leaving the state will lower radon readings from a CRM.
 
In traditional radon tests, is this due to the stack effect pulling radon into the home?
 
Al
--- On Tue, 5/26/09, Kanah, Inc. wrote:
From: Kanah, Inc. Subject: [RNPROF] rain eventsTo: RADONPROFESSIONALS@LIST.UIOWA.EDUDate: Tuesday, May 26, 2009, 8:51 PM
I know that the Homebuyers, Citizens, and protocols say not to test in bad weather and that the wind speed is to be >30 mph. So low pressure, high winds all call for the test to be repeated. I figure that if the test is low under these conditions it's a keeper.My question is, high winds and low pressure being absent, how much rain would be needed to cause the data to be thrown out? Would you need to see a large spike in the data using a continuous monitor?It is very easy, using archive radar data, to see weather conditions during the testing period but when I question the test, I'm accused of "cherrypicking" good data. Test results are usually between 4 and 10 pCu/L and no mention is made of weather conditions during the test.I see this often and usually recommend that a long term test be done but the buyers are already trembling in their boots at the thought of living in such dire conditions.So, how much rain?steve stokes RN PROF (Subscription changes - archives) - http://list.uiowa.edu/archives/radonprofessionals.html *****  RN LEADERS - http://www.radonleaders.org/  **** RN Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com  (Search radon)RN PROF (Subscription changes - archives) - http://list.uiowa.edu/archives/radonprofessionals.html ***** RN LEADERS - http://www.radonleaders.org/ **** RN Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com (Search radon) RN PROF (Subscription changes - archives) - http://list.uiowa.edu/archives/radonprofessionals.html ***** RN LEADERS - http://www.radonleaders.org/ **** RN Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com (Search radon)
 
 
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