A Site Study of Soil Charactersistics and Soil Gas Radon in Rochester, Minnesota
Loading...
Persistent link to this item
Statistics
View StatisticsJournal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Title
A Site Study of Soil Charactersistics and Soil Gas Radon in Rochester, Minnesota
Authors
Published Date
1991
Publisher
Center for Urban and Regional Affairs, University of Minnesota
Type
Report
Abstract
In regional surveys, indoor radon is usually the parameter of interest, but occasionally
soil gas radon at depths of 1 meter or less is also measured. At statewide scales, even limited
data sets can be used to infer relationships between geology and soil gas or indoor radon.
However, predicting the radon potential of a single house or even an area the size of a neighborhood
is more difficult As the size of a surveyed area decreases, site-specific variables
become more significant.
During 1990 we completed a study of two residential neighborhoods within 7
kilometers of each other near Rochester, Minnesota. Eight holes were augered into glacial
sediments to maximum depths of 4.5 meters and samples collected for grain-size analysis,
measurement of radon parent/daughter nuclides and radon emanation. A total of sixty-five
homes in the areas were provided with two alpha-track registration detectors for indoor
monitoring between September 1988 and September 1989.
Positive correlations were observed between the average soil radon, the average
indoor radon, and the precursor/daughter radionuclides. The study area with the most topographic
relief also had the highest radionuclide contents, the most variability with depth, and
some variation with time and soil moisture; these results were not observed at the low-relief
site. The type of study described would best be applied to site-specific preconstruction
screening, rather than to predicting radon in existing structures.
Description
Uncopyrighted report. Acknowledgement of the Minnesota Geological Survey and CURA would be appreciated is this material is used.
Related to
Replaces
License
Collections
Series/Report Number
Funding information
Minnesota Geological Survey, Olmsted County Health Department, USDA Soil Conservation Service, Rochester, Minnesota, Center for Urban and Regional Affairs, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Isbn identifier
Doi identifier
Previously Published Citation
Suggested citation
Lively, R.S.; Steck, D.J.; Brasaemle, B.. (1991). A Site Study of Soil Charactersistics and Soil Gas Radon in Rochester, Minnesota. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/175628.
Content distributed via the University Digital Conservancy may be subject to additional license and use restrictions applied by the depositor. By using these files, users agree to the Terms of Use. Materials in the UDC may contain content that is disturbing and/or harmful. For more information, please see our statement on harmful content in digital repositories.