TITLE:
Submerging Aquaculture Tank Spray Bars Reduces Airborne Radon Levels
AUTHORS:
Alexis L. Gerber, Kali A. Roduner, Jill M. Voorhees, Michael E. Barnes
KEYWORDS:
Radon, Spray Bars, Aquaculture, Occupational Health
JOURNAL NAME:
Occupational Diseases and Environmental Medicine,
Vol.14 No.2,
March
31,
2026
ABSTRACT: Radon gas can be liberated every time that radon-containing ground water is aerated for use in aquaculture, creating an occupational health concern. Typical hatchery tank designs have water entering a rearing unit via a spray bar, resulting in radon liberation even in previously aerated ground water. This study evaluated a novel technique to reduce airborne radon levels resulting from secondary aeration by placing rearing tank spray bars either above or below the water surface. Radon levels were significantly decreased when the spray bar was submerged under the surface of the water. The mean (SE) radon level from tanks with a submerged spray bar was 11.80 (0.73) pCi/L, while the radon level from tanks with an elevated spray bar was 43.95 (3.04) pCi/L. In situations where aeration from elevated spray bars is unnecessary, submerging spray bars would be an inexpensive and energy-saving technique to reduce airborne radon levels compared to exhaust fans, intensive aeration, and filtration.