RADON QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS

RADON QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS EPA currently estimates that how many homes have elevated radon levels? 1 out of every 15 homes. What is the average outdoor radon concentration in the US? .4 pCi/l. 2pCi/l indicates that in a 1 liter volume of air there is how many decays per minute? 4.4 decays per minute. What does a working level measure? Energy released by Radon daughters. What method of radon testing can be used for the longest period on time? Alpha Tracks (months - year). Why is radon in homes generally higher in winter than in summer? There is less ventilation in a home in the winter than in summer. Known affects of high dose radiation leads us to prudently assume that for low does of radiation, what? A straight line hypothesis without a threshold is most acceptable. What does the concept of a threshold of radiation mean? There is a value below which radiation doses are harmless. Risks of days lost associated with 1 pCi/l of radon exposure over a lifetime is equivelant to what? Smoking 1 cigarette/day. True or False? Radon uses windows as a typical entry route? False. Name three typical entry routes for radon? Cracks in foundation floors, well water, block walls below grade. True or False? It is easy for radon to enter into water? False. How does rainfall effect radon levels and why? Rainfall increases Radon concentrations in homes. Rainfall densifies routes that radon may travel through in the soil surrounding the house. The space under the house remains dry, all radon focuses in this area. True or False? As you increase the rate at which air escapes from the house into the outdoor air, you also increase the rate at which radon enters. True. More cubic feet of air exchanged per year mean more radon. What two particles are found in the nucleus? Protrons & Neutrons. What is the atomic number of 2He^4? 2 What is an atomic number? The number of protons in an atom. What is the atomic weight of a material? What unit is it measured in? How much the atoms weighs (typically same as mass number [# protons + #neutrons]). Amu's What is the mass number of an atom? What is the mass number of 86Rn^222? # protons + #neutrons in the nucleus; 222 What element is the immediate parent to Radon? Radium What distinguises one element from another? Number of protons While protons are unique for each element what varies? Neutrons What are isotopes? Elements with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. What is an electron volt a unit of? Energy What is the most penetrating particle? Gamma