Exhaust Ventilation and Radon Induction in a Subarctic Climate

This paper is based on research experience in radon transport. Radon in homes is a serious hcalth concern in the Tanana Valley region of Interior Alaska. The authors have much research experience in this area and arc keenly interested in radon transport and dynamics for this climatic zone. The source of radon for Interior Alaska is primarily uplands metamorphic schist bedrock, which can allow radon induction pathways to bascmcnts. In addition, housing is becoming morc health conscious and ventilation is bccoming a standard anticipated element in building envelopes. This research focuses on an opportunity to discover how radon might be inducted in two houses recently built with exhaust-only ventilation systems. The houses were also found to havc worrisome radon levels. These were madc available to us for research and the result is reported herein. The results show that indeed radon can be inducted by exhaust-only ventilation systems, as can carbon monoxide from an attached garage. However the results are complex and not intuitive. This experience adds to our sense that understanding radon transport requires a great deal of scrutiny and rigorous understanding of building science and pressure differentials in a house to fully comprehend and make sense of the results we see in research.