Encyclopedia of Environmental Science and Engineering, Volume I and II

1052 RADON

TABLE 3

Summary of initial results for radon testing in non-residential buildings

Province

Type of

building

Number

of buildings

Average radon

concentration

(PCI/L)

Range

(PCI/L)

Valley & Ridge School 8 1.5 1.4–2.9

Hospital 1 0.7 0.7

Municipal 10 2.4 0.7–5.8

Highlands School 12 2.3 0.3–6.9

Hospital 5 1.6 0.4–4.8

Municipal 10 4.4 0.3–36.2

Piedmont School 18 1.7 0.3–4.3

Hospital 20 1.4 0.3–5.7

Municipal 21 11.4* 0.4–192

Inner Coastal Plain School 14 1.6 0.3–4.7

Hospital 7 0.6 0.4–0.9

Municipal 10 1.9 0.3–6.1

Outer Coastal Plain School 11 1.4 0.3–5.6

Hospital 8 0.7 0.7–1.1

Municipal 10 0.6 0.3–1.1

Totals School 63 1.7 0.3–6.9

Hospital 41 1.1 0.3–5.7

Municipal 61 5.5 ** 0.3–192

All 165 2.9 0.3–192

* Becomes 2.4 if the single 192 pCi/1 value is excluded.

** Becomes 2.3 if the single 192 pCi/1 value is excluded.

developed a program of responding to reports of high radon

level homes (i.e., homes which are confirmed to have radon

concentrations at or above 200 pCi/1). A report of such a

home triggers the Radon Cluster Identification Protocol under

which the local governing body is advised of the confirmation

of such a home in their community and their cooperation in

sponsoring a public information meeting solicited. Following

the public meeting, DEP staff test for radon in homes in the

area around the “discovery” home. If this survey yields one or

more additional homes with radon concentrations at or above

200 pCi/1, the survey is repeated in the area around these

homes. This process is repeated until all homes in the area

with radon levels at or above 200 pCi/1 have been identified.

The specific concern with homes having this level of exposure

to radon is that the lung cancer risk associated with a lifetime

of such exposure at 75% occupancy is estimated by EPA to be

in the range of 44 to 77 in 100. EPA has recommended that

individuals finding such levels in their homes remediate them

within several weeks or temporarily relocate until such reme-

diation can be accomplished.^16

Radon Remediation Research

In addition to supporting EPA’s remediation research in

Clinton, DEP is also cooperating with the EPA on its House

Evaluation Program under which fifteen New Jersey homes,

predominantly in the Piedmont region, are undergoing

in-depth evaluation of their radon problems at no charge to

the homeowner. This program is expected to yield important

information on how specific house characteristics and weather

patterns influence the radon levels in homes. Additionally, the

DEP has contributed $185,000 in funding to a radon reme-

diation research program being undertaken cooperatively by

EPA, DEP, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory of the University of

California, Oak Ridge Associated Universities and Princeton

University. The primary aim of this research is to fine tune

existing remediation methods so as to make them easier to

implement and more cost effective.

Radon Database Development

Radon testing firms participating in the voluntary certifica-

tion program submit radon testing data they have collected

summarized by municipality name and zip code. This data is

entered into a computerized database by DEP and used as an

aid to decision making.

Radon in Non-Residential Structures

The DEP issued interim guidance for the testing of non-

residential structures such as schools, hospitals, government

buildings and businesses in 1986. The Department of Health

issued health related guidance for such structures in November

of 1987.

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