Pilot study of radon volatilization from showers with implications for dose

A full-sized, enclosed, experimental shower (volume 1.5 m(3)) was used to simulate radon volatilization from domestic showers, The shower was operated at a water flow rate of 2 and 4 L/min at a temperature of 22 degrees C. The average fractional volatilization was similar to 0.60 and similar to 0.70, respectively. A comparison was made between inhalation doses in nanogray (nGy) for four 10-min shower experiments and for the case of continuous breathing indoors for a 24-h period. The calculated inhalation dose using experimental shower results ranges in value from 1.5 to 11 nGy as compared to a calculated daily inhalation dose of 180 nGy.