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Analysis of the performance of a radon mitigation system based on charcoal beds

Authors: Wasiolek, P. Montassier, N. Hopke, P.K. (Clarkson Univ., Potsdam, NY (United States). Dept. of Chemistry) Abrams, R. (RAd Systems, Inc., Westboro, MA (United States))

Abstract: The performance of a radon mitigation system based on adsorption of radon onto charcoal beds (RAdsorb system) combined with an electronic air cleaner (EAC) installed in a single family house in Shrewsbury, MA was studied in a series of tests.^Semi-continuous measurements were made of the radon gas concentration, potential alpha energy concentration (PAEC), particle concentration with size distribution and radon decay product activity-weighted size distribution with and without additional aerosol sources.^The instruments used were a radon gas monitor (EBERLINE, RGM-3), WL-meter (Thomson Nielsen), and a differential mobility particle sizer (DMPS) by TSI.^For measurements of the activity size distribution, an Automated, Semi-continuous Graded Screen Array (ASC-GSA) developed at Clarkson University was utilized.^The tests were designed to study the influence of the combined system as well as the separate components of the mitigation system: fan, charcoal bed and EAC on the all of the measured parameters.^When all the components of the mitigation system were working, the achieved reductions were radon concentration below 150 Bq m^-3 (4 pCi L^-1) and PAEC below 100 nJ m^-1 (5 mWL) with the smallest sized fraction of PAEC (0.5--1.58 nm) of about 0.4.^13 refs., 8 figs., 6 tabs.