Brief discussion and mapping of radon emanation in different areas of Portland, Oregon

Burns, Scott

PDXScholar (Portland State University)

Portland State UniversityPDXScholarMetroscape Institute of Portland Metropolitan StudiesSummer 2010Indicators of the Metroscape: RadonScott BurnsPortland State UniversityLet us know how access to this document benefits you.Follow this and additional works at: http://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/metroscapePart of the Urban Studies and Planning CommonsThis Article is brought to you for free and open access. It has been accepted for inclusion in Metroscape by an authorized administrator of PDXScholar.For more information, please contact pdxscholar@pdx.edu.Recommended CitationBurns, Scott (2010). "Indicators of the Metroscape: Radon," Summer 2010 Metroscape, unnumbered.Indicators of the MetroscapePage 31MetroscapeI205I5I-5Radon Potentialby Zip CodeHighModerateLowParksRadonby Scott BurnsProfessor of  Geology, Portland State UniversityRadon is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas that comes out of  the ground from the breakdown of  uranium. It is naturally occurring in the soil in very small quantities. Concentrations in the soil vary based on different geological origins of  the soil, so radon rates going into houses depend upon where the house is sited. The gas leaks through the foundations of  the homes and collects in houses. EPA tells us that radon gas is the number two cause of  lung cancer in humans behind smoking and that 20% of  lung cancer cases are attributable to radon.  It is a health hazard. Meanwhile homes and buildings have become more tightly sealed with the advent of  energy conservation. This can lead to increased levels of  radon in the living space.  Power companies did extensive testing of  homes in the 1980’s to determine levels of  radon.  My students and I ana-lyzed the Portland data in 1994 from over 1100 homes and then again updated their research in 2004 with information from another 600 homes.  The map below shows the up-dated areas where radon emanation is high (dark red), me-dium (medium red) and low (tan) in the Portland area.  Most of  the Portland area rates low in radon potential because the common bedrock is basalt which is low in uranium. The high areas are where houses are on Missoula Flood sedi-ments. They had their ultimate origins from granite bedrock that is traditionally high in uranium, and in Portland these soils are very permeable allowing the radon gases to flow easily into basements. Blank zip codes = insufficient dataData were collected in 1994 and 2004Source: Portland State UniversityRadon Emanationby Zip Code

Indicators of the Metroscape: Radon

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Indicators of the Metroscape: Radon

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