Matched Pair Analysis of the Influence of Weather-Stripping on Indoor Radon Concentration in Swiss Dwellings

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Abstract
To quantify the inferred elevated radon concentrations in energy efficient homes caused by lower air infiltration due to air-tightness, an attempt was made to eliminate some of the more important conflicting parameters by measuring pairs of adjacent homes i.e. comparing retro-fitted or new houses with a conventional neighbouring dwelling. Our results with passive track etching dosemeters exposed over 3 months during the winter of 1982/83 indicate that radon concentrations in the living quarters on the ground floor are increased by 107 Bq.m-3 (2.9 pCi.l-1) ± 50 Bq.m-3 (1.6 pCi.l-1) or a factor of 1.8 over the conventional home. The large absolute and relative fluctuations from pair to pair, the evident lower average radon concentrations in the cellar of the energy efficient homes and the differences in the patterns of window opening show that measurements of larger samples and an assessment of every home with air infiltration specialists is needed to separate the effect of air-tightness on the radon indoor concentration from the predominant anthropogenic, structural or geological influences.

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