| Paper No. 1-6 | ||
| Presentation Time: 8:00 AM-12:00 PM | ||
| TOTAL-GAMMA RADIOACTIVITY AS AN INDICATOR OF INDOOR RADON POTENTIAL | ||
|
ROJAS, Maria1, MUSHRUSH, George2, and MOSE, Douglas1, (1) Chemistry, George Msson Univ, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030, Dje42@aol.com, (2) Chemistry, George Mason Univ, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030 Geographic Information System (GIS) technology has made it possible to compare indoor radon measurements at almost 2000 precisely located homes in northern Virginia with the total gamma aeroradioactivity at each site, along with many other geologic and topographic site characteristics. Total gamma radioactivity, derived mainly from radioactive isotopes of potassium and uranium series elements (which includes radon) tend to increase together. Consequently, total-gamma aeroradioactivity tends to be greater in areas with greater radon emanation from the soil, and greater in areas around homes with greater indoor radon. Our comparison of total-gamma aeroradioactivity with indoor radon in homes built on the soils of nine different geologic units all show that indoor radon increases as total-gamma aeroradioactivity increases.The correlation is better than other indicators, such as the average soil radon concentration over particular geological units and the age of the home. | ||
|
South-Central Section (37th) and Southeastern Section (52nd), GSA Joint Annual Meeting (March 12–14, 2003)
General Information for this Meeting | ||
| Session No. 1--Booth# 6 Environmental Geology and Hydrogeology (Posters) University of Memphis Conference Center: Holiday Inn, Ballroom 2/3 8:00 AM-12:00 PM, Thursday, March 13, 2003 | ||
© Copyright 2003 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions. | ||