• on the passing of Dr Bill Field
    I am want to share with my radon colleagues what I shared with Bill's family. As is so true for may of us in the field of radon, there are deeply personal as well as professional ties that connect us in heart and soul and spirit and it is moments like this that we must rise and recommit to the critical work we have the privilege to do everyday - - - for this how we carry the spirit of Bill Field and our colleagues forward.

    Liz; Daniel, Kathryn and David,

    My name is Bill Angell and Bill was a colleague on the WHO International Radon Project (IRP) and a friend.

    Liz, you may recall that my wife, Michele, and our daughter visited the University of Iowa about 12 years ago when Maddie (Stead) was considering applying to the dentistry program. You and Bill took Maddie and her mom under your wings and as a result Maddie applied for and was admitted to dentistry and graduated and is today, a dentist. We are indebted to you and Bill for your caring guidance.

    Going back to the WHO IRP, Bill was largely responsible for the opportunity extended to me to chair the prevention and mitigation working group in parallel to the measurement working group he chaired. This was perhaps the greatest professional gift that I have ever received. You all know, of course, this was a core character trait of your husband and father. He was always there to support you and his colleagues as well as his students.

    I know he loved each of you and, to me, he was model for what I would like to be as a husband and father and grandfather.

    On behalf of Maddie and Michele and radon colleagues across the world, I am grateful that your shared Bill with us. His spirit remains the light of every new day and the spirit that gives us the faith and strength to face new challenges..

    Bill Angell, University of Minnesota
  • Are these changes needed?
    Michelle, CARST is an independent organization. I was proud to be one of the co-founders of CARST while I was AARST President. Getting CARST up and running as an independent organization was a personal and professional priority. An early priority of my/our Canadian colleagues was creating a certification program, C-NRPP. Pam Warkentine was one of the leaders at establishing and operating C-NRPP. We, U.S. radon professionals, can learn from our CARST/C-NRPP professionals and it has been a great pleasure to see how the radon profession has grown with collaboration with Health Canada.
  • In Memoriam -- Jay F. Bauder
    I am grateful for the gift of our colleague, Jay. Let's honor his spirit and friendship with others in our radon community and beyond. Thank you, Jay, for your presence,
  • Old Post Mitigation National Survey
    Bill and Colleagues,

    Here are several papers that begin to address your question:

    Findlay, Robertson and Scott 1990 Testing of Indoor Radon Reduction Techniques in Central Ohio Houses: Phase 2 (Winter 1988-1989), Research Triangle Park, NC: EPA AEERL

    Findlay, Robertson and Scott 1991 Follow-up Durability Measurements and Mitigation Performance Improvement Tests in 38 Eastern Pennsylvania Houses having Indoor Radon Reduction Systems, Research Triangle Park, NC: EPA AEERL

    Scott and Robertson, 1989 Follow-Up Alpha-Track Monitoring in 40 Eastern Pennsylvania Houses with Indoor Radon Reduction Systems (Winter 1987-88), Research Triangle Park, NC: EPA AEERL

    There may be some more AARST Symposium papers that I could search if they do not pop-up from others.

    Thank you for your work on the Science Advisory Committee considering the threshold question,

    Bill A
  • Comparison of Consumer Radon Monitoring Devices
    Outstanding job, Pam and Canadian radon colleagues. I am so proud of your spirit and contributions which are more important in the limited research in the U.S. We look forward to your next paper. Best wishes to CARST members especially those who serve in leadership positions.
  • Appreciation for News Story on Radon Testing in Schools
    I apologize for dual posting but I feel it is important to give an update and to expand on my earlier post.

    First, there is an additional report on school radon testing coming out of Tampa's WTSP at: https://www.wtsp.com/video/news/investigations/10-investigates/tampa-bay-counties-say-theyre-finally-working-to-test-for-radon/67-8215389

    Second, every radon professional can encourage their local media to do similar stories by pointing news directors to the KARE and the WTSP and similar stories. When you do so, it is critical to emphasize that it is important recommend radon testing of every home in the community including those of students and school staff.
  • Appreciation for News Story on Radon Testing in Schools
    The KARE 11 report has stimulated a number of additional stories on radon in schools - - - the most recent was an August 8 story from a Tampa television station. There are more television news reports to come. There is a brief story in the most recent Radon Reporter on the television news reports on radon in schools. There is also a Sunday CE class at the Symposium on the new school and large building radon mitigation standard.
  • Permanent Wood Foundations
    Brian and Colleagues,

    Your intuition about a high flow fan is most likely correct. However, this may be a case for a non-ASD approach such as ventilation and/or basement pressurization.

    While, to the best of my knowledge, there is no published peer-review research on mitigating "All Weather' wood foundations, they are are constructed with a great deal of aggregate under and surrounding the foundation. There also ca be significant variations in construction of wood foundations, for example:
    - the footings may be a treated plate on compacted aggregate or concrete; and
    - the floor may be treated sheathing with furring strips on aggregate or a conventional concrete slab.

    Almost always there are significant, difficult to seal air leaks.

    Personally, I would be extremely cautious in quoting any post-mitigation radon concentrations.

    Keep me posted,

    Bill
  • New Guide for Health Care Providers!
    Excellent job, Bill. Thank you also to the members of Radon Leaders including AARST, CRCPD and US EPA.
  • The Passing of Lorin Rollins Stieff
    Rick and family, I am sorry to hear of this loss as well as Paul Kotrappa's passing. The stories you told of your dad's contributions are very important. Bill Angell
  • smoking vs. radon risk chart
    Jeff,
    The chart refer to appeared in USEPA's 1986 Citizens' Guide to Radon and it stated that 10 pCi/L (370 Bq/m-3) was equivalent to smoking 20 cigarettes/day. This comparison was strongly criticized as inappropriate.
    Bill
    MURC-UMn

William J Angell

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