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- Title
Increased Radon Exposure From Thawing of Permafrost Due To Climate Change.
- Authors
Glover, P. W. J.; Blouin, M.
- Abstract
Radon is a natural radioactive gas accounting for approximately one in 10 lung cancer deaths, with substantially higher death rates in sub‐Arctic communities. Radon transport is significantly reduced in permafrost, but permafrost is now thawing due to climate change. The effect of permafrost thawing on domestic radon exposure is unknown. Here we present results from radon transport modeling through soil, permafrost, and model buildings either with basements or built on piles. We find that permafrost acts as an effective radon barrier, reducing radiation exposure to a tenth of the background level while producing a ten‐fold increase in the radon activity behind the barrier. When we model thawing of the permafrost barrier, we find no increase in radon to the background level for buildings on piles. However, for buildings with basements, the radon increases to over one hundred times its initial value and can remain above the 200 Bq/m3 threshold for up to 7 years depending on the depth of the permafrost and the speed of thawing. When thawing speed is taken into account, radiations remain higher than the threshold for all scenarios where 40% thawing occurs within 15 years. This new information suggests that a significant sub‐Arctic population could be exposed to radon levels dangerous to health as a result of climate change thawing of permafrost, with implications for health provision, building codes, and ventilation advice. Plain Language Summary: Radon is an invisible natural radioactive gas that causes approximately one in 10 lung cancer deaths. It affects smokers much more than non‐smokers and causes higher death rates in sub‐Arctic communities. Radon flow is significantly reduced by permafrost, but permafrost is now thawing due to climate change. This paper models flow of radon through the soil, permafrost, and model buildings either with basements or on piles. We find that permafrost acts as an effective radon barrier. It reduces radiation to about a tenth of the background level. The trapped radon produces increased radiation behind the barrier. When we model thawing of the permafrost barrier, we find no increase in radon to the background level for buildings built on piles. However, for buildings with basements, the radon increases to more than one hundred times its initial value for up to 7 years depending on the depth of the permafrost and how fast the permafrost thaws. This new information suggests that a significant sub‐Arctic population could be exposed to radon levels dangerous to health as a result of permafrost thawing due to climate change. This has implications for health provision, building codes, and ventilation advice. Key Points: Permafrost acts as a radon barrier, reducing radiation to a tenth of the background level, and increasing it behind the barrierInstantaneous thawing gives plumes >200 Bq/m3 for over 5 years in buildings with basements, but no increase in pile‐supported buildingsRadiation plumes over 200 Bq/m3 for up to 4 years also occur when slower thawing that results in 40% thaw in less than 15 years is modeled
- Subjects
RADON; PERMAFROST; THAWING; CLIMATE change; CLIMATE change &; health; TUNDRAS
- Publication
Earth's Future, 2022, Vol 10, Issue 2, p1
- ISSN
2328-4277
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1029/2021EF002598