Radon Exam Flashcards

Radon Exam Flashcards Which of the following factors will increase the risk of radon-induced effects on human health?Smoking Which of the following is an INCORRECT statement?a.Radon 222 is derived from radium.b. Radon 222 is an inert gas.c. Radon 222 is a radioactive gas.d. Radon 222 once formed, disappears in 3.8 days Radon 222 once formed, disappears in 3.8 days In addition to radioactivity, which of the following are characteristics of radon?Naturally occurring; chemically inert; gaseous Temperature induced stack effect is greatest when:The outdoor temperatures are very low relative to interior temperatures What is the purpose of the US EPA Map of Radon Zones?To suggest where radon resistant new construction techniques would be the most cost-effectively employed.Some passive continuous radon monitors use a solid-state

silicon detector to sense:

Alpha particles Short-term tests conducted in the same location with the house being under closed building conditions will not vary more than 10 percent when tests are conducted at different times of the year.False Activated charcoal can be affected by rooms that are much hotter or colder than the normal assumed 68 degrees Fahrenheit.As long as you want, assuming it is shut off and shipped properly More recent EPA publications cite the equilibrium factor as 40 percent rather than 50 percent.True What is one of the main differences between testing for radon in schools versus testing in single family homes?More robust forced air systems can cause significant differences from one room to another in a school If the water for a home comes from an underground well that has 60,000 pCi/L in the water, how much radon will be added to the air of the home due to normal usage of water?

• to 10 pCi/L

On an overall basis for similarly constructed homes in the same climatic area, under which of the following conditions might one expect the highest radon entry into a home?Highly permeable soil with high radium content beneath the house which is entirely built over a crawl space.

An ion is:An atom that has either gained or lost an electron

Which of the following best represents the recommendation of the U.S. EPA for citizen exposure to radon?Long-term exposure to elevated radon can increase the potential for lung cancer What additional type of radiation accompanies the release of an alpha particle from the decay products of radon?

1.17 WLMFirst convert the radon to radon decay product exposure in units of Working Levels.WL = Radon x EF /

100Where:Radon = 10 pCi/LEF = 100* or 1.0WL = 10 x

1/100 = 0.1 WLNow determine dose using the following

equation:WLM = WL x time of exposure in hours/170 hours

per monthWhere:WL = 0.1 WL from aboveTime = 50

weeks x 40 hours per week = 2000 hoursWLM = 0.1 x

2000/170 = 1.17 WLM

A measurement of 4 pCi/L is made in a home. Using typical

equilibrium ratio assumptions, the working level is:

0.02 WLUse the equilibrium equation to solve for radon decay products in units of working levels (WL). Assume 50% ER since no additional information was provided.WL = ER X Rn / 100WL = .5 X 4 / 100WL = 2 / 100WL = 0.02 WL

Using the EPA risk assessment chart in the Citizens Guide, which of the following individuals are at the greatest risk for developing lung cancer from radon exposure over a lifetime?A person who has never smoked and who is exposed to an average of 50 pCi/L.When is fresh air typically provided to large buildings such as schools?During occupied hours A measurement of 2 WL is made in a home. Using typical

equilibrium ratio assumptions, the radon concentration is:

400 pCi/L The risk of lung cancer is greater from the radon decay

products than from radon itself because:

The radon does not stay in contact with the lung tissue long enough for a potential alpha decay to occur.Radon decay products stick to lung cells where they can decay and release the alpha directly to the cell.The most common radon mitigation technique at this time

is:

Active soil depressurization Once a house has been aired out, how long does it take for the radon and radon decay products to reach a relatively level activity (dynamic equilibrium)?12 hours Secular or radioactive equilibrium is achieved between

radon and its short lived decay products when:

The rate of decay of radon is equal to the individual rates of decay of Polonium 218, Lead 214, Bismuth 214 and Polonium 214.In a house with a forced air heating and cooling system, which of the following conditions would most likely increase short-term indoor radon concentrations the most?Return ducts under the slab with the air blower on.How can you tell if a house contains elevated levels of radon?Test for radon.Cumulative exposure to radon decay progeny is usually measured in which of the following units?Working level months (WLM) Pipe chases up through interiors of apartment buildings can provide radon pathways to upper level units.True After 25 years of updates by testers and state agencies, the US EPA Map of Radon Zones is a good predictor of where indoor radon levels will not be elevated.False High exposure to radon has been shown to increase the probability of developing which type of cancer?Lung An electret ion chamber device is affected by which of the following?Natural (background) gamma radiation.Dynamic equilibrium is the time that it takes after a house is closed for the entry of radon to equal the rate at which radon escapes through shell openings and decays.True A correct statement regarding radon testing in Zone 3

areas of the EPA Radon Potential Map is that such testing:

is recommended.Which of the following types of radiation from radon decay products delivers the most amount of energy per single impact to living tissue?Alpha radiation.

Simultaneous measurements of radon and radon decay products were made in a room after being closed for 12 hours. The equilibrium ratio was determined to be 25 percent from these measurements. Which of the following conditions is most likely causing the equilibrium ratio to be lower than the expected 50 percent?Ceiling fan operating in the room that was measured.Which of the following specific circumstances of exposure would provide the greatest risk of contracting lung cancer?(Assume no other exposures beyond those detailed here) A person who lived in several homes that were at the national average indoor radon concentration of 1.3 pCi/L, 75 percent of the time for a lifetime of 70 years.To thoroughly calculate risk, one calculates working level months (combination of amount of exposure and the duration of exposure).WLM = WL X Hours of exposure / 170 Hours per monthTo use this equation, we also need to convert the radon measurement to working levels.WL = ER X Rn / 100In this explanation, we assume you are now capable of making conversions from radon to RDPs and from RDPs to radon using a 50% Equilibrium Factor Which one of the following defines the unit of radioactivity known as a picoCurie?

• trillionth of a curie

What is the neutral pressure plane within a home? It is the general location within the home, above which the house is at positive pressure relative to the outdoors and below which the house is at negative pressure relative to the outdoors.What is the minimum deployment/sampling period for a short-term test?Two days The equilibrium ratio (ER) between radon and radon decay progeny is best described by which one of the following expressions?WL (100)/(pCi/L)

In most homes the main source of elevated radon levels is:the soil.

The radioactive decay of radon occurs:When two neutrons and two protons leave the nucleus Prolonged exposure to radon is considered dangerous

because radon can cause:

lung cancer Homeowners should be advised to have their mitigation

contractors stipulate that they will follow:

Radon Mitigation Standards such as the US EPA, AARST, ASTM, or as recognized by their state radon office How do radon decay products cause lung cancer? Alpha particles released when radon decay products decay can damage the DNA of a lung cell.Who is especially at risk of developing lung cancer from exposure to radon?Smokers What is radon?An invisible, odorless, tasteless, naturally occurring, radioactive gas.Indoor Radon levels are always higher during the winter months (November through March) than any other time of year.False Cleaning the air with an electronic air cleaner or a high

efficiency air filter (HEPA) filter will:

change the equilibrium ratio but not affect the radon gas levels appreciably.