Uranium distribution in the Cave Creek-Carefree Area, central Arizona, and implications for indoor radon

Radon is a colorless, odorless gas produced by the natural radioactive decay of uranium. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has determined that exposure to indoor radon may increase a person's risk of developing lung cancer. Indoor-radon levels generally correlate with uranium concentration in underlying rocks and soil, and some areas of Arizona are known to have elevated levels of uranium. This study is part of an ongoing evaluation of potential radon hazards in Arizona by the Arizona Geological Survey and the Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency. This report presents results of a study of the distribution of uranium in rocks and basin-fill sediments in the Cave Creek Carefree area of central Arizona. Uranium concentrations were measured using a portable gamma-ray spectrometer. The spectrometer survey followed the methods outlined in Duncan and Spencer (1993b) and the same equipment was used during both investigations. Indoor-radon data were supplied by the Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency and well water-radon data were taken from Barnett (1990) and Duncan and Spencer (1993a). (11 pages)Documents in the AZGS Document Repository collection are made available by the Arizona Geological Survey (AZGS) and the University Libraries at the University of Arizona. For more information about items in this collection, please contact azgs-info@email.arizona.edu