Exposed soil
Radon, a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas, occurs in areas of uranium-rich igneous rocks or organic-rich soils. The presence of radon in clay soil depends upon the presence of radioactive minerals in the nearby parent rock or soil materials. Does this Spark an idea?
Occurrence
The presence of radioactive minerals in the soil or rock, rather than the grain size of soil, dictates the concentration of radon. Radon in clay soil or coarser soil occurs only if the radioactive material exists.
Movement
The rate of gas movement in soil affects the accumulation of radon in a structure. Differences in soil permeability cause radon gas in sand soil to move more quickly than radon in clay soil, as described in the "Kansas Geological Survey, Public Information Circular 25."
Accumulation
Radon accumulation in a building depends on the soil type and building construction.
Radon enters buildings through the cracks or a dirt floor due to differences in pressure between the underlying ground and overlying structure. A tight building can trap an excessive radon accumulation inside.
Assessment
A homeowner or building owner can assess the radon accumulation in a structure by measuring the concentration of this radioactive gas using inexpensive, short-duration test kits.
Mitigation
Mitigation warranted in homes if radon exceeds U.S. EPA Action Levels.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency established ranges of levels of radon gas that warrant radon mitigation to protect occupants of an indoor space.
Tags: clay soil, presence radioactive, presence radioactive minerals, radioactive minerals, radon clay, radon clay soil
