Radon exhalation rate from various building materials.

Solid-state alpha-track detectors using cellulose nitrate films were used to measure the radon exhalation rates from building materials. The radon flux emitted from the surface of the building material was measured by placing an inverted cup on the top of the building material. Cellulose nitrate film was placed within the cup. Tracks due to alpha particles from radon that migrate from the building material into the air space in the cup were registered on the cellulose nitrate film. The films were etched in a solution consisting of 10(-3) m3 2.5 N NaOH solution. A spark counter or microscope was used to record the tracks appearing on the cellulose nitrate film. The average exhalation rate of radon was obtained by means of a simple mathematical approach that can be used to estimate the maximum possible radon concentration in a closed room due to building materials alone. Infiltration and ventilation effects were excluded in this work. This new technique and simple approach can be used to establish the data base for average radon exhalation rates from all available building materials and walls or floors. The maximum indoor radon concentration can be estimated from the measured average radon exhalation rate by using this simplified model.