Wind-induced contaminant transport in near-surface soils with application to radon entry into buildings

摘要

Indoor air exposures to gaseous contaminants originating in soil can cause large human health risks. This dissertation examines an important component of the indoor radon problem: the impacts of wind on soil-gas and radon transport and entry into buildings. The research includes experimental and modeling studies of wind's interactions with a building's superstructure and the resulting soil-gas and radon flows in the surrounding soil. In addition to exploring the effects of steady winds, a novel modeling technique is developed to examine the impacts of fluctuating winds on soil-gas and radon transport.