lessons learned from measuring 4,560 homes in cork · –27 homes in 5-10% areas (204-788 bq/m3)...
TRANSCRIPT
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Lessons learned from measuring
4,560 homes in Cork
Stephanie Long
Senior scientist
Radon advice
Radon Forum
24th November
Cork City
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Overview• Comparison of Cork Co Co data to RPII Cork
data
• Brief summary of results
• Comparison of results to map predictions
• Examples of high radon homes in low risk
areas
• Remediation effectiveness
• Examples of new homes that can have high
radon concentrations
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Radon in Cork – private housing
• 4,855 homes measured by RPII
• 12% above 200 Bq/m3
• Highest measurement 4,500 Bq/m3
• Equivalent radiation dose to receiving
15 chest X-rays/day
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Radon in Cork – social housing
• 4,560 homes measured by Cork
Co.Co.
• 6.5% above 200 Bq/m3
• Highest measurement 3,300 Bq/m3
• Equivalent radiation dose to receiving
11 chest X-rays/day
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Cork County Council
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Summary of results
• West Cork
– results for 929 homes
– 0.5% of homes >200 Bq/m3
• South Cork
– results for 2668 homes
– 4% of homes >200 Bq/m3
• North Cork
– results for 599 homes
– 21% of homes >200 Bq/m3
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The Radon Map
• 11,319 homes measured 1992-1999 (1% of
housing stock in 2000)
• 10 km grid squares used as measurement area
• Percentage of homes above 200 Bq/m3 predicted
for each 10 km grid square
• 5 categories of 10 km square: <1%, 1-5%, 5-10%,
10-20%, >20%
• Squares predicted to have >10% of homes above
200 Bq/m3 designated High Radon Areas
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Reliability of radon map
21% homes predicted >200 Bq/m3
20.5% homes measured >200 Bq/m3
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Reliability of radon map
25% homes predicted >200 Bq/m3
16% homes measured >200 Bq/m3
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Reliability of radon map
12% homes predicted >200 Bq/m3
13% homes measured >200 Bq/m3
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Reliability of radon map
6% homes predicted >200 Bq/m3
4.3% homes measured >200 Bq/m3
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Reliability of radon map
2.2% homes predicted >200 Bq/m3
7.4% homes measured >200 Bq/m3
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Reliability of radon map
0.2% homes predicted >200 Bq/m3
0.8% homes measured >200 Bq/m3
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Reliability of radon map
0.01% homes predicted >200 Bq/m3
0.0% homes measured >200 Bq/m3
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Homes in low radon areas can
have high radon concentrations
• West Cork:
– 3 homes in <1% area (214 - 1063 Bq/m3)
• S. Cork:
– 1 home <1% area (651 Bq/m3)
– 11 homes in 1-5% areas (212-478 Bq/m3)
– 27 homes in 5-10% areas (204-788 Bq/m3)
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Remediation with active sump
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Effectiveness of remediation
• Homes >800 Bq/m3 remediation efficiency
– 92-99% (25 homes in N. Cork)
– Average reduction 96%
• 200-800 Bq/m3 remediation efficiency:
– 61-99% (95 homes in N. Cork)
– Average reduction 91%
• Internationally:
– Typical active sump reduction efficiency 70-95%
– Greater remediation efficiency for higher initial
concentrations
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Building Regulations
• Since 1998, Building Regulations require that all
new homes in high radon areas have a radon
barrier installed (and a standby radon sump)
• Low Radon Areas - a standby sump is required
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Building regulations –
effectiveness?
• 34 homes in High Radon Areas (post-
1998) with radon >200 Bq/m3 (N. Cork)
• However the Building Regulations have:
– reduced mean radon concentration in homes
– reduced no. of homes >200 Bq/m3
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Building regulations –
effectiveness?
• Reduction in mean radon concentration:– Mean concentration in pre-98 homes 377 Bq/m3
– Mean concentration in post-98 homes 194 Bq/m3
– 50% reduction in mean concentration
• Reduction in no. of homes >200 Bq/m3:– 45% of pre-98 homes >200 Bq/m3
– 22% of post-98 homes >200 Bq/m3
– 50% reduction in no. of homes >200 Bq/m3
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Building regulations –
effectiveness?
Studies in Tralee, Ennis and Kilkenny have
shown:
– Reduction of between 50% and 30% in mean
radon concentration
– Reduction of 50% in the % of homes > 200
Bq/m3
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Many private homes not yet tested
• Social housing measurements
effectively complete
• 175,000 private homes yet to be
measured in Cork
• Further public awareness campaign
planned to address this
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Conclusions
• Predictions of radon map are accurate
• Homes in low risk areas can have high radon
concentrations
• Remediation is effective
• New homes can have a radon problem, though
building regulations have had some effect
• Further public awareness work required in Cork
• Significant dataset which requires detailed
analysis and publication