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Geology 308 for Final > 22. Radon > Flashcards

22. Radon Flashcards

1
Q

how is radon formed

A

radioactive decay of uranium and thorium

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2
Q

what does radon decay to make

A

it is radioactive
and it decays to make lead which is the most stable product

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3
Q

what are similarities between radon and radium

A

Both in the uranium-Pb decay series
both are radioactive
both cause cancers

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4
Q

Difference of radon and radium

A

Radium is a solid
Radon is a gas

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5
Q

what happens when someone breathes in excessive radon gas

A

particles embed themselves in lungs and stay there
continue to decay and radioactive decay causes problems in body
mainly lung cancer

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6
Q

what does radon emit

A

alpha particles that radiate so much energy that they strip electrons away from atoms that make up your body

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7
Q

what are some properties that make radon to detect

A

colourless, odourless

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8
Q

What is the second highest reason for lung cancer after smoking

A

Excess radon exposure

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9
Q

how long does mike holmes recomment leave radon test units in place

A

91 days

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10
Q

what is the maximum accetable level of radon according to health canada

A

200 Bq/m3

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11
Q

how much does a radon test cost

A

250

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12
Q

how does radon enter a house

A

shower
windows
cracks in basement
drain -> sumps
radon from groundwater
fractured bedrock then soil the plants

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13
Q

what is Bq (Becquerel)

A

measure of radioactivity
the activity of quantity of radioactive material in which one nucleus decays per second

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14
Q

Ionizing radiation

A
  • calculated with transmission factors
  • decreases with square of distance it travels
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15
Q

detection is in what dose and particle counts

A

gray, sievert
per second or minute

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16
Q

what fraction of homes in calgary have radon higher than the health canada limit

A

1/8

17
Q

studies have found that homes built in the last 25 years have higher radon content. why

A

more square footage
taller
more airtight

18
Q

approx cost of radon remediation

A

2500

19
Q

what percent of lung cancer in canada is attributed to radon

A

16%

20
Q

what minerals containt uranium and thorium

A
  • Zircon ZrSiO4
    substitute uranium for Zr in this crystal structure
  • Monazite (Ce,La,Th,Nd,Y)PO4
  • Uraninite (UO2)
    another name : pitchblende

found in all 3 types of rocks

21
Q

how does U and Th minerals go up land

A

fractured bedrock
Limestone
sand and gravel
fractured clay
sand and silt

22
Q

radon risk is high in which provinces

A

alberta and saskatchewan

23
Q

which zone of relative radon hazard is calgary in

A

High: zone 1

24
Q

which part of calgary has highest radon readings

A

NW - 125

25
Q

why is radon higher in some areas than others

A

uranium and thorium minerals in bedrock

grain size and permeability of bedrock

amount of fractuers in bedrock

abundance of uranium and thorium in glacial sediments

26
Q

southern alberta has alot of which type of rocks

A

Sandstone
siltstone
mudstone

27
Q

was southern alberta glaciated in the past

A

yes, mostly glacier moved deposits called moraines

28
Q

what was glacial episode like in alberta

A

20,000 years ago
Laurentide ice sheet met Cordilleran glaciers in rocky mountains. Met along a line passing through calgary

29
Q

Erratics

A

rocks that were deposited during glaciation

30
Q

where is glacial material sourced from

A

rocky moutains of west

Canadian shield of NE

31
Q

what is SRP, soil radon potential

A

proportional to radon concentration in soil

higher the permeability of soil, higher the SRP

32
Q

what is radon data show across canada about SRP

A

radon in soil is main source of radon in homes

soil permeability is important for soil radon potential

SRP can be an effective predictor of areas prone to elevated indoor radon concentrations

Geology 308 for Final (11 decks)

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