June 18th, 1996

               The Florida Radon Research Project -
                     A Fruitful Investigation


NOTE: Project summaries documents included in the downloadable
file "FLRADWP5.ZIP" (FL Radon Research Summaries) are preceded by
an "*".

Starting with a report written in 1989, the Florida Radon
Research Program (FRRP) has resulted in 50 reports to date. 
Looking only at what this project has done for us in the last 15
months, the last 11 reports are described here.  All reports are
available from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS)
by calling (703) 487-4650.  Project summaries are available on
the CTC BBS where indicated.

1.   RAETRAD Version 3.1 User Manual, EPA/600/SR-94/196,  
     January 1995, NTIS report number PB95-501995.  RAdon
     Emanation and TRAnsport into Dwellings (RAETRAD) is a
     computer program written for use with Windows 3.1 on an IBM
     compatible personal computer.  RAETRAD is used to character-
     ize the effects of foundation soil and fill properties on
     indoor radon entry, to characterize the modes of radon
     entry, and to develop lumped-parameter models to support
     development of radon protective construction standards. 

2.   The RAETRAD Model of Radon Gas Generation, Transport, and
     Indoor Entry, EPA/600/SR-94/198, January 1995, NTIS report
     number PB95-142030.  This report details the research that
     went into RAETRAD and compares the results with empirical
     data.  RAETRAD is described as a relatively simple model,
     2-dimensional numerical-analytical simulation of steady-state
     radon generation and movement into rectangular slab-on-grade
     houses. 

*3.  Feasibility of Characterizing Concealed Openings in the
     House-Soil Interface for Modeling Radon Gas Entry,
     EPA/600/SR-95/020, May 1995, NTIS report number PB95-178414. 
     A lumped-parameter model, based on the detailed RAETRAD
     model for radon entry, is the basis of the feasibility
     study.  This report gives a sensitivity analysis that
     defines which parameters of the model are important.  A
     complete project summary is available on the CTC BBS.

4.   Evaluation of Building Design, Construction, and Performance
     for the Control of Radon in Florida Houses:  Evaluation of
     Radon Resistant Construction Techniques in Eight New Houses,
     EPA/600/SR-95/114, August 1995, NTIS report number PB95-253910.
     This report covers the design, building, and monitoring of
     eight new houses.  It also gives the hourly air change rate
     to minimize the radon buildup in the houses.

5.   Demonstration of Radon Resistant Construction Techniques -
     Phase II, EPA/600/SR-95/159, December 1995, NTIS report
     number PB96-121512.  This report gives the effectiveness of
     15 new houses using radon resistant construction to avoid
     buildup of radon within the structures.  Some analysis also
     includes 13 houses which were used in a 1991 study to expand
     the data pool.  This report details numerous problem areas
     and their corrections.  All of the homes are slab-on-grade,
     which is the typical construction technique in Florida.

*6.  HVAC Systems as a Tool in Controlling Indoor Air Quality: A
     Literature Review, EPA/600/SR-95/174, January 1996, NTIS
     report number PB96-140561.  The report gives results of a
     review of literature on the use of heating, ventilation, and
     air-conditioning (HVAC) systems to control indoor air qual-
     ity (IAQ).  The review covers the years 1988 through 1993,
     and involved 60 references, 32 of which are cited in the
     report.  The role of HVAC in correcting Sick Building
     Syndrome (SBS) and Building Related Illness (BRI), leading
     to the ASHRAE Standard 62-1989 is discussed.  A complete
     project summary is available on the CTC BBS.

*7.  Soil and Fill Laboratory Support--1992, Radiological Analy-
     ses, Florida Radon Research Program, EPA/600/SR-95/145,
     February 1996, NTIS report number PB96-140579.  This report
     gives results of radiological analyses of soil and fill sam-
     ples for the top 0.9 m of North Florida fill (mostly <1
     pCi/g) and Central Florida fill (mostly over 1 pCi/g). 
     However, near surface soil gases may be generated at a
     greater depth; therefore, shallow depth samples may not give
     the whole picture.  A complete project summary is available
     on the CTC BBS.

*8.  Site-Specific Characterization of Soil Radon Potentials,
     EPA/600/SR-95-161, February 1996, NTIS report number PB96-140553.
     The Florida Department of Community Affairs is developing
     construction standards for incorporating radon-resistant building
     features in areas of elevated soil radon potential.  Field tests
     of soil radon flux and moisture measurements were taken from 26
     sites to determine whether there was a difference in radium activity.
     The radon producing potential of the samples was detectably different.
     The details of the test results are given in the report.  A
     complete project summary is available on the CTC BBS.

*9.  Residential Radon Construction Feature Selection System,
     EPA/600/SR-96/005, March 1996, NTIS report number PB96-153473.
     New house studies included 24 houses.  The report
     describes the basis and development of the system for
     selecting radon control features for new house construction
     in different regions according to their mapped soil radon
     potentials.  A complete project summary is available on the
     CTC BBS.
  
10.  Technical Basis for a Candidate Building Materials Radium
     Standard, EPA/600/SR-96/022, March 1996, NTIS report number 
     PB96-157565.  This report is a summary of the technical
     basis for candidate building materials radium standard.  The
     report contains the standards and a summary of the technical
     basis for the standard. 

*11. Test Cell Studies of Radon Entry, EPA/600/SR-96/010, March
     1996, NTIS report number PB96-153549.  This study was
     conducted to contrast the effectiveness of slab-in-stem wall
     (SSW) with floating slab (FS) construction practices, to
     measure radon transport and entry for model testing, to
     develop protocols relevant to depressurized radon
     measurements, and to determine the effect of high radium
     fill soil on indoor radon concentrations.  A complete
     project summary is available on the CTC BBS.

These reports disclose the process of discovery of the problems
in building houses to keep radon from accumulating.  The problem
is made more severe when the soil contains a high level of
radium, which generates the radon gas.

Within the state of the art, questions can be answered by David
C. Sanchez, the Project Officer.  He can be reached at (919) 541-2979
in the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Division of
EPA's National Risk Management Research Laboratory, located at
Research Triangle Park, NC.