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Women with Infant Children Radon Study 1992-1993 INTRODUCTION During the third year of a three-year grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the North Dakota State Department of Health and Consolidated Laboratories (NDSDHCL) began testing for radon in 10% of the 9,900 homes served by the Women, Infants, and Children Assistance Program (WIC). On October 28, 1992, at the WIC annual meeting, the Department distributed 2,468 radon testing kits to WIC coordinators. This was enough kits to sample 10% of the WIC homes. SAMPLING The Department followed EPA guidance for sampling protocol. Participants were asked to:
QUALITY ASSURANCE Two detectors were given to each recipient. They were instructed to place one detector on each level of the home in the room that is utilized the most. Duplicates were provided to 10% of the test recipients. They were instructed to place the duplicate directly beside a host test detector. The Department followed EPA guidance to formulate its Quality Assurance Plan and used the National Database format for recording collected data. The precision was determined by utilizing a coefficient of variation computer program. Due to misunderstandings, many of the duplicates were placed in different rooms on the same level. Therefore, many precision checks are of a level rather than of a room. During this survey, field blanks were not utilized. The accuracy was determined by the Department's Laboratory from a series of samples that were exposed in radon chambers. The chambers are located in laboratories owned by the Niton or Bowser Morner Companies. The accuracy of the results of the samples measured by the NDSDHCL were acceptable according to EPA guidelines. The survey was conducted from November 1992 to April 1993. Data continued to arrive at the Department during the entire survey and through May. Only data collected from the normal radon testing season, which is considered to be November through April, was utilized. The collected data was verified and stratified by parameters. The original database represented 1,198 samples. Forty-eight samples were lost, not analyzed, or were not mailed to the laboratory in time. Eighty-nine of the duplicate samples could not be used in the averaging. The final database contained 98 duplicate samples and 973 normal or regular (NR) samples for a total of 1,061 samples. 1061
% sample recovery = ---- x 100 = 43.0%
2468
This survey was voluntary and samples were not received from the following counties: Billings, Eddy, Golden Valley, Grant, McKenzie, Mercer, Sioux, and Slope. See Table 14. The county percentage of samples whose concentration is greater than 4 picocuries per liter is shown in Table 14. The city/county percentages are shown in Table 15. Description of Statistics by Selected Parameters Data for parameters as required for the national database may be found in Table 13. Basement Sump Many buildings are built on flood plains and a large number have sumps in basements. Sumps are especially prevalent in cities built near rivers. It has been noted in previous survey reports by the Department, that basements with sumps generally have higher radon concentrations. The radon concentration can usually be lowered by covering the sump. A surprising 234 samples, about 22%, were from homes containing sumps. Mobile Homes Of 1,061 WIC samples, 94 (8.9%) were mobile homes. The average radon concentration for mobile homes was 5.9 pCi/l. The average for all samples was 6.1 pCi/l. The Department found it surprising that the average mobile home radon concentration was almost as high as the concentration in conventional homes. The reasons for mobile homes having such high concentrations of radon are unknown at this time. Heat Distribution An "other" category was added to the Federal Database for heat distribution systems to include combination systems and wood burners that are only used during the winter heating season. Forced air was the most common type of heat distribution system (62.85%). The hot water system was the next most common form of heat distribution (15.6%). Test Location Floor The most common sampling floors were the first floor (54.7%) and the basement (38.4%). Basement, Crawl Space, or Slab-on-Grade The basement, crawl space, and slab-on-grade building styles can be found in combinations in some older homes. Older homes generally have crawl spaces for small houses and basements for larger houses. Some houses are a combination of all three types. Slab-on-grade is not a popular home building style in North Dakota, comprising only 1.6% of the samples. Type of Building Single family buildings comprise 82.6% of the samples. Following Federal guidelines, the Department categorized the buildings such that most buildings were contained in the first four types. The most popular other type of building selected was multifamily. Room Type The most used rooms were the living room, bedroom, family room, and unfinished basement. VARIANCE Of the total variance, 0.35% was due to the geological regions, 15.17% due to the county, 29.64% due to error, and 54.84% due to building. There are 47 counties, 104 cities, 545 buildings, 3 geological regions, and Yes or No indicating whether or not the facility contains a basement sump. Major contributors to variance are the county, the city, the building, and the sump. Figure 5 indicates the data is log normal except for lower concentrations. FIGURE 5 - WIC RADON STUDY 1992-1993
Number of Samples: 1061 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS Conducting a survey using the National Database is labor intensive. Often the instructions to testing applicants are either not understood or not followed. The Department conducted an organizational meeting in which the application was explained, questions answered, and test kits handed out, however, in many cases, the proper testing protocol was still not followed. This survey shows WIC homes have less of a radon concentration than do the homes surveyed in the 1988 study. The problem is that both average concentrations in North Dakota are greater than 4 pCi/l; i.e., WIC homes (6.1) and homes (7.0). TABLE 13 WIC SURVEY STATISTICS BY PARAMETER
PERCENTAGE OF
NUMBER ARITHMETIC SAMPLES
OF ARITHMETIC STANDARD GREATER THAN
PARAMETERS SAMPLES MEAN DEVIATION 4 pCi/l 20 pCi/l
MOBILE HOME
Yes 94 5.9 19.7 14.9 4.3
No 967 6.1 7.3 52.0 3.9
TYPE OF BUILDING
Single Family 852 6.6 9.5 52.2 4.6
Multi Family 173 4.0 7.3 29.5 1.2
School 1 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.0
Other 6 4.4 2.2 66.7 0.0
BASEMENT CRAWL SPACE
SLAB-ON-GRADE
Basement 821 6.5 9.4 53.3 4.3
Crawl Space 120 2.8 2.3 23.3 0.0
Slab-on-Grade 16 3.9 5.2 31.3 6.3
Other 65 8.2 13.5 41.5 7.7
TEST LOCATION FLOOR
Basement 403 8.7 12.1 70.5 7.4
First Floor 574 4.6 5.1 37.6 1.9
Second Floor & Above 73 4.6 12.0 23.3 1.4
HEAT DISTRIBUTION TYPE
Hot Air 636 6.1 9.4 49.8 3.3
Hot Water 158 4.8 9.0 37.3 2.5
Radiant 72 7.1 7.3 54.2 6.9
Individual Room Units 111 6.7 8.4 49.5 7.2
Other 35 8.7 11.3 68.6 5.7
ROOM TYPE
Bedroom 271 5.3 5.4 46.5 3.0
Family Room 118 7.2 8.3 59.3 5.1
Living Room 300 4.7 7.4 36.7 1.7
Unfinished Basement 113 7.1 6.5 67.3 7.1
Office 7 6.9 2.9 85.7 0.0
Other 78 9.9 18.6 62.8 9.0
Finished Basement 1 3.6 0.0 0.0 0.0
Kitchen 57 5.2 5.9 42.1 5.3
Recreation Room 21 12.8 18.5 81.0 9.5
Dining Room 45 3.6 2.8 22.2 0.0
Play Room 8 7.5 6.2 50.0 12.5
TV Room 2 3.2 1.3 50.0 0.0
Sleeping Room 1 8.9 0.0 100.0 0.0
1st Floor Bathroom 3 1.9 1.0 0.0 0.0
Basement Bathroom 3 4.1 3.4 33.3 0.0
Laundry Room Basement 23 10.8 20.3 73.9 4.3
Laundry Room Main Fl. 2 8.0 3.7 100.0 0.0
GEOLOGICAL REGION
1 175 8.4 15.1 59.4 7.4
2 372 6.0 7.9 51.9 3.0
3 510 5.3 6.6 42.7 3.3
BASEMENT SUMP
Yes 234 8.0 10.9 59.8 6.0
No 827 5.6 8.5 45.6 3.4
CLOSED HOUSE
Yes 979 6.1 9.0 48.6 3.9
No 82 6.4 10.5 50.0 4.9
FIREPLACE IN USE
Yes 73 7.4 12.4 43.8 6.8
No 988 6.0 8.8 49.1 3.7
AIR CONDITIONER IN USE
Yes 2 6.7 0.8 100.0 0.0
No 1059 6.1 9.1 48.6 4.0
CENTRAL AIR SYSTEM 14.0
Yes 216 7.3 7.4 51.4 4.2
No 845 5.8 48.0 3.9
TABLE 14 WIC SURVEY STATISTICS BY COUNTY PERCENTAGE PERCENTAGE
NUMBER ARITHMETIC OF SAMPLES OF SAMPLES
OF ARITHMETIC STANDARD GREATER THAN GREATER THAN
COUNTY SAMPLES MEAN DEVIATION 4 pCi/l 20 pCi/l
Adams 14 6.0 5.4 57.1 0.0
Barnes 33 4.3 4.1 36.4 0.0
Benson 4 2.6 1.3 25.0 0.0
Bottineau 16 4.6 1.9 68.8 0.0
Bowman 12 9.1 6.8 100.0 8.3
Burke 8 5.3 4.5 37.5 0.0
Burleigh 65 4.0 4.3 36.9 1.5
Cass 82 5.0 6.6 42.7 1.2
Cavalier 22 5.8 9.1 36.4 4.5
Dickey 10 6.4 3.2 70.0 0.0
Divide 10 4.8 4.1 50.0 0.0
Dunn 4 18.6 11.5 100.0 25.0
Emmons 16 5.7 4.4 62.5 0.0
Foster 10 3.5 1.8 20.0 0.0
Grand 61 9.3 14.3 65.6 9.8
Forks
Griggs 14 5.2 3.1 42.9 0.0
Hettinger 18 29.9 38.1 88.9 38.9
Kidder 6 6.8 4.9 50.0 0.0
Lamoure 12 2.4 2.0 16.7 0.0
Logan 5 12.0 15.0 80.0 20.0
McHenry 26 4.2 2.7 57.7 0.0
McIntosh 9 4.4 3.3 33.3 0.0
McLean 10 5.6 6.5 40.0 10.0
Morton 28 4.7 4.8 28.6 3.6
Mountrail 10 3.3 1.7 30.0 0.0
Nelson 12 5.4 4.2 50.0 0.0
Oliver 2 6.8 2.5 100.0 0.0
Pembina 18 3.8 2.7 33.3 0.0
Perkins 2 24.6 13.8 100.0 50.0
Pierce 14 3.3 3.3 21.4 0.0
Ramsey 22 3.7 2.5 31.8 0.0
Ransom 23 13.0 18.9 43.5 17.4
Renville 8 4.4 2.1 50.0 0.0
Richland 35 4.5 3.5 40.0 0.0
Rolette 36 7.0 6.3 55.6 5.6
Sargent 14 5.6 5.2 42.9 0.0
Sheridan 22 6.2 6.2 54.5 4.5
Stark 83 6.3 5.7 62.7 4.8
Steele 8 2.9 1.5 37.5 0.0
Stutsman 38 6.0 5.4 60.5 5.3
Towner 2 2.7 1.7 50.0 0.0
Traill 16 5.8 2.2 75.0 0.0
Walsh 47 8.4 7.3 63.8 10.6
Ward 103 4.6 4.8 39.8 1.9
Wells 10 4.1 3.1 40.0 0.0
Williams 42 3.5 2.5 31.0 0.0
TABLE 15 WIC SURVEY STATISTICS BY CITY/COUNTY PERCENT PERCENT
SAMPLES SAMPLES
NUMBER ARITHMETIC GREATER GREATER
OF ARITHMETIC STANDARD THAN THAN
COUNTY CITY SAMPLES MEAN DEVIATION 4 pCi/l 20 pCi/l
Adams 14 5.99 5.45 57.1 0.0
Hettinger 12 4.21 3.49 50.0 0.0
Reeder 2 16.70 0.90 100.0 0.0
Barnes 33 4.30 4.08 36.4 0.0
Kathryn 2 1.60 0.20 0.0 0.0
Litchville 2 2.00 0.00 0.0 0.0
Oriska 4 3.25 1.31 50.0 0.0
Valley City 21 4.49 4.51 38.1 0.0
Wimbledon 2 3.20 0.10 0.0 0.0
Benson 4 2.63 1.31 25.0 0.0
Maddock 2 3.80 0.80 50.0 0.0
Minnewaukan 2 1.45 0.15 0.0 0.0
Bottineau 16 4.63 1.86 68.8 0.0
Bottineau 2 4.10 0.50 50.0 0.0
Lansford 6 3.33 1.92 33.3 0.0
Souris 6 4.65 1.29 66.7 0.0
Westhope 2 6.60 1.90 100.0 0.0
Willow City 2 5.70 1.60 100.0 0.0
Bowman 12 9.07 6.78 100.0 8.3
Bowman 10 8.98 7.42 100.0 10.3
Scranton 2 9.50 0.20 100.0 0.0
Burke 8 5.29 4.51 37.5 0.0
Bowbells 2 2.35 0.25 0.0 0.0
Portal 4 5.53 5.19 25.0 0.0
Powers Lake 2 7.75 3.55 100.0 0.0
Burleigh 65 4.00 4.31 36.9 1.5
Bismarck 57 3.04 2.69 33.3 0.0
Lincoln 2 3.40 0.60 0.0 0.0
Menoken 2 15.25 4.55 100.0 0.0
Regan 2 16.40 4.20 100.0 50.0
Wilton 2 8.05 5.95 50.0 0.0
Cass 82 5.00 6.61 42.7 1.2
Fargo 62 4.19 3.24 43.5 0.0
Harwood 2 1.85 0.05 0.0 0.0
Mapleton 2 14.80 1.30 100.0 0.0
Tower City 6 16.68 20.70 50.0 16.7
West Fargo 12 4.18 5.86 25.0 0.0
Cavalier 22 5.76 9.13 36.4 4.5
Alsen 2 3.05 0.15 0.0 0.0
Hannah 3 8.10 2.48 100.0 0.0
Langdon 14 3.29 3.18 28.6 0.0
Wales 2 2.65 0.25 0.0 0.0
Walhalla 1 45.00 0.00 100.0 100.0
Dickey 10 6.40 3.15 70.0 0.0
Ellendale 6 6.97 3.31 83.3 0.0
Fullerton 2 2.90 0.10 0.0 0.0
Guelph 2 8.20 0.50 100.0 0.0
Divide 10 4.77 4.09 50.0 0.0
Crosby 8 5.86 3.87 62.5 0.0
McGregor 2 0.40 0.00 0.0 0.0
Dunn 4 18.58 11.49 100.0 25.0
Manning 2 25.80 11.90 100.0 50.0
Emmons 16 5.71 4.39 62.5 0.0
Hague 2 8.10 2.80 100.0 0.0
Linton 8 7.03 5.21 75.0 0.0
Pollock 4 2.98 1.42 25.0 0.0
Strasburg 2 3.50 1.10 50.0 0.0
Foster 10 3.50 1.85 20.0 0.0
Carrington 10 3.50 1.85 20.0 0.0
Grand 61 9.29 14.27 65.6 9.8
Forks
Grand Forks 55 9.57 14.92 67.3 10.9
Larimore 2 12.70 1.70 100.0 0.0
Northwood 2 5.10 1.80 50.0 0.0
Thompson 2 2.45 0.15 0.0 0.0
Griggs 14 5.23 3.07 42.9 0.0
Cooperstown 3 4.07 1.03 33.3 0.0
Glenfield 3 7.73 0.95 100.0 0.0
Hannaford 2 3.25 0.25 0.0 0.0
Luverne 2 2.50 0.20 0.0 0.0
Sutton 2 2.85 0.65 0.0 0.0
Hettinger 18 29.93 38.05 88.9 38.9
Mott 6 9.87 8.97 83.3 16.7
New England 12 39.96 42.78 91.7 50.0
Kidder 6 6.75 4.90 50.0 0.0
Dawson 2 13.20 2.40 100.0 0.0
Tuttle 4 3.53 1.38 25.0 0.0
Lamoure 12 2.35 1.99 16.7 0.0
Edgeley 4 2.75 2.37 25.0 0.0
Kulm 2 2.80 0.20 0.0 0.0
Lamoure 4 1.40 1.39 0.0 0.0
Marion 2 3.00 2.40 50.0 0.0
Logan 5 11.96 14.97 80.0 20.0
Gackle 2 4.25 1.85 50.0 0.0
Napoleon 3 17.10 17.47 100.0 33.3
McHenry 26 4.20 2.69 57.7 0.0
Deering 6 3.03 2.61 50.0 0.0
Karlsruhe 4 3.88 2.48 50.0 0.0
Towner 2 2.50 0.60 0.0 0.0
Upham 2 7.75 0.35 100.0 0.0
Velva 10 4.36 2.79 60.0 0.0
Voltaire 2 5.75 0.05 100.0 0.0
McIntosh 9 4.44 3.30 33.3 0.0
Ashley 5 3.32 2.83 20.0 0.0
Wishek 2 2.70 0.40 0.0 0.0
Zeeland 2 9.00 1.40 100.0 0.0
McLean 10 5.62 6.53 40.0 10.0
Benedict 2 3.40 0.40 0.0 0.0
Butte 4 7.93 9.53 50.0 25.0
Riverdale 2 3.80 3.20 50.0 0.0
Underwood 2 5.05 1.45 50.0 0.0
Morton 28 4.69 4.82 28.6 3.6
Huff 2 2.70 1.50 50.0 0.0
Mandan 26 4.84 4.95 26.9 3.8
Mountrail 10 3.29 1.66 30.0 0.0
New Town 2 4.15 0.15 50.0 0.0
Parshall 4 2.58 1.08 0.0 0.0
Stanley 4 3.58 2.18 50.0 0.0
Nelson 12 5.43 4.24 50.0 0.0
Aneta 4 0.40 0.00 0.0 0.0
Lakota 5 9.44 3.15 100.0 0.0
McVille 2 1.95 0.25 0.0 0.0
Michigan 3 4.40 1.57 33.3 0.0
Oliver 2 6.75 2.45 100.0 0.0
Hannover 2 6.75 2.45 100.0 0.0
Pembina 18 3.80 2.70 33.3 0.0
Cavalier 10 4.11 2.86 40.0 0.0
Drayton 6 4.83 2.65 33.3 0.0
Hensel 4 2.00 0.86 0.0 0.0
Perkins 2 24.60 13.80 100.0 50.0
Lodgepole 8 2 24.60 13.80 100.0 50.0
Pierce 14 3.31 3.27 21.4 0.0
Barton 2 2.40 0.20 0.0 0.0
Rugby 12 3.47 3.51 25.0 0.0
Ramsey 22 3.67 2.49 31.8 0.0
Crary 4 1.88 1.19 0.0 0.0
Devils Lake 16 4.26 2.62 43.8 0.0
Hampden 2 2.55 0.05 0.0 0.0
Ransom 23 13.02 18.88 43.5 17.4
Enderlin 4 3.70 0.81 25.0 0.0
Lisbon 15 18.77 21.23 60.0 26.7
Nome 2 1.20 0.80 0.0 0.0
Sheldon 2 0.40 0.00 0.0 0.0
Renville 8 4.38 2.09 50.0 0.0
Mohall 4 3.45 2.07 25.0 0.0
Tolley 2 3.95 1.35 50.0 0.0
Richland 35 4.55 3.52 40.0 0.0
Fairmont 2 4.40 0.20 100.0 0.0
Fairmount 6 4.62 4.18 33.3 0.0
Great Bend 2 8.30 1.10 100.0 0.0
Hankinson 4 1.50 0.74 0.0 0.0
Wahpeton 15 5.61 3.74 46.7 0.0
Wyndmere 6 2.67 1.40 16.7 0.0
Rolette 36 6.96 6.31 55.6 5.6
Dunseith 14 8.34 7.92 71.4 14.3
Rolette 10 4.23 3.99 30.0 0.0
Rolla 12 7.63 4.88 58.3 0.0
Sargent 14 5.58 5.17 42.9 0.0
Forman 4 9.50 6.37 75.0 0.0
Geneseo 2 4.65 1.35 50.0 0.0
Gwinner 6 4.60 4.21 33.3 0.0
Stirum 2 1.60 0.70 0.0 0.0
Sheridan 22 6.24 6.18 54.5 4.5
Denhoff 2 1.05 0.65 0.0 0.0
Drake 4 3.10 1.71 50.0 0.0
Goodrich 2 0.95 0.05 0.0 0.0
McClusky 14 8.63 6.54 71.4 7.1
Stark 83 6.33 5.69 62.7 4.8
Dickinson 71 6.07 5.40 59.2 2.8
Gladstone 2 11.55 10.45 50.0 50.0
Lefor 2 8.65 3.05 100.0 0.0
Richardton 10 6.63 6.04 70.0 10.0
Steele 8 2.91 1.49 37.5 0.0
Finley 4 3.55 1.26 50.0 0.0
Hatton 2 1.10 0.00 0.0 0.0
Hope 2 3.45 1.15 50.0 0.0
Stutsman 38 5.98 5.37 60.5 5.3
Buchanan 6 4.32 0.55 66.7 0.0
Eldridge 2 2.45 1.55 0.0 0.0
Jamestown 22 7.55 6.39 68.2 9.1
Kensal 4 3.53 2.48 50.0 0.0
Streeter 2 4.45 2.95 50.0 0.0
Ypsilanti 2 3.70 2.40 50.0 0.0
Towner 2 2.65 1.65 50.0 0.0
Sarles 2 2.65 1.65 50.0 0.0
Traill 16 5.80 2.20 75.0 0.0
Mayville 9 5.16 1.44 77.8 0.0
Portland 7 6.63 2.67 71.4 0.0
Walsh 47 8.44 7.30 63.8 10.6
Forest River 2 3.15 1.15 50.0 0.0
Grafton 31 8.43 7.15 58.1 6.5
Lankin 2 4.20 0.60 50.0 0.0
Minto 8 12.00 9.24 75.0 37.5
Nash 2 4.10 0.00 100.0 0.0
Ward 103 4.55 4.78 39.8 1.9
Burlington 2 9.15 2.55 100.0 0.0
Donnybrook 2 3.60 1.10 50.0 0.0
Douglas 2 8.35 2.65 100.0 0.0
Glenburn 2 3.45 1.45 50.0 0.0
Kenmare 6 4.25 1.64 33.3 0.0
Max 2 13.55 2.95 100.0 0.0
Minot 75 4.47 5.09 38.7 2.7
Ruthville 2 0.95 0.15 0.0 0.0
Sawyer 4 4.10 3.35 50.0 0.0
Surrey 6 2.28 0.94 0.0 0.0
Wells 10 4.05 3.09 40.0 0.0
Fessenden 2 5.65 0.85 100.0 0.0
Harvey 4 5.70 3.62 50.0 0.0
Heaton 2 2.05 0.65 0.0 0.0
Sykeston 2 1.15 0.25 0.0 0.0
Williams 42 3.53 2.55 31.0 0.0
Alamo 2 8.20 0.90 100.0 0.0
Ray 4 4.30 2.88 50.0 0.0
Tioga 4 4.10 3.72 50.0 0.0
Williston 32 3.08 2.01 21.9 0.0
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Copyright © 2012 North Dakota Department of Health |
