Indoor radon measurement methodology by solid state nuclear track detectors

The measurement of radon using solid state nuclear track detectors is presented. The importance of radon in environmental radiation and to human health is well known and thus the measurement and evaluation of indoor radon is important not only for dosimetry purposes but also for evaluation of public health impacts. In this work we discuss the detection and calibration systems and the etching method of solid state detectors. Some considerations regarding potential problems that can be encountered in measuring indoor radon in an underdeveloped country, and how can they be solved are discussed.     

The influence of the soil and plant natures and pollution on the radon and thoron alpha-activities inside various herbal infusions by using solid state nuclear track detectors

Uranium and thorium contents were determined in samples of various plants in the soils in which the plants were grown, and in herbal infusions made by boiling the plants in potable water, using CR-39 and LR-115 solid state nuclear track detectors. In addition, radon and thoron alpha-activities per unit volume inside the plants, soils and herbal infusions were measured. These measurements were completed by an investigation of the radon transfer between soils and plants and that between plants and herbal infusions, and also by the investigation of the influence of pollution due to different material dusts on the radon and thoron alpha activities inside the plants and their infusions.     

A new method for determining the radon emanation coefficients and radon production rates in different building materials using solid state nuclear track detectors

Radon α-activity concentrations have been measured inside and outside various building materials by combining a calculational method with the solid state nuclear track detector (SSNTD) technique. Radon emanation coefficients of the studied materials have been evaluated. A new calibration method for determining the radium (²²⁶Ra) and thorium (²³²Th) specific activities of the considered building materials has been developed. The radon production rates per unit volume of the studied materials have been evaluated. The influence of the material porosity on the radon emanation coefficient and radon production rate have been investigated.     

Thoron interference in radon exhalation rate measured by solid state nuclear track detector based can technique

This paper presents the extent of thoron (²²⁰Rn) interference in the radon (²²²Rn) exhalation rate, measured by solid state nuclear track detector based ‘Can’ technique. Experiments were carried out following the standard procedure of ‘Can’ technique as well as active technique as a reference method for ²²²Rn and ²²⁰Rn exhalation measurements. It was found that ²²⁰Rn interference may lead to overestimation of ²²²Rn exhalation by a significant factor which can be as high as 12 depending upon the rate of ²²⁰Rn exhalation from samples.     

Stratigraphical study of two neighboring geological sites by using solid state nuclear track detectors

Kodak LR-115 type II solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTD) have been used for determining uranium contents in different phosphatic sedimentary rock samples. These samples belong to different stratigraphic layers from the upper Cretaceous to Paleogene in the Marrakech neighboring High Atlas north flank area. Interesting information has been obtained on the sedimentological conditions of uranium concentration in the geological sites.     

The influence of the lithology and granulation on radon emanation in a sedimentary phosphatic deposit using solid state nuclear track detectors

Samples have been collected from different layers in a sedimentary phosphatic deposit and sieved. Different granulometric fractions have been selected. The uranium and thorium contents have been determined in each phosphate sample and its corresponding selected fractions. Radon (²²²Rn) α-activities per unit volume have been evaluated inside and outside each phosphate sample and its corresponding selected fractions by using CR-39 and LR-115 type II solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTD). The radon emanation coefficient in each phosphate layer has been determined and the global radon alpha activity outside a parallelepipedic block of the layers studied was evaluated. The influence of the lithology and granulation on the radon emanation has been studied.     

A new method for studying the influence of pollution and soil nature on the radon emanation from water samples by using solid state nuclear track detectors

Radon emanation from surface water and groundwater samples has been studied by using CR-39 and LR-115 solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTD). A calibration method for determining the thoron and radon concentrations of the water samples studied has been developed. The effect of pollution due to coal fly ashes, cement and granite dusts on the radon emanation from water samples has been investigated. The influence of the radon source on the radon emanation rates from water samples has been studied.     

The influence of the lithology and depth on water recharge of wells in two Moroccan Atlantic coastal regions by using solid state nuclear track detectors and radon as a natural tracer

Uranium and thorium contents as well as radon and thoron -activity concentrations were evaluated inside different underground water samples by using a method based on calculating the CR-39 and LR-115 type II solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs) detection efficiencies for the emitted -particles and measuring the resulting track density rates. The validity of the SSNTD technique utilized was checked by analysing uranium nitrate standard solutions. A relationship between water radon concentration and recharge of wells dug in two Moroccan Atlantic coastal regions, for a given lithology, was found. The influence of the lithology and depth on radon concentration and salinity of well waters studied was investigated.     

Study of the influence of the lithological and hydrogeological parameters of aquifers on the radon emanation from underground waters using solid state nuclear track detectors

Radon-to-thoron ratios as well as radon and thoron activity concentrations in different underground water samples belonging to different aquifers in the Moroccan Middle Atlas area have been evaluated by LR-115 and CR-39 solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTD) using a new calibration method. The radon isotope (²²²Rn) was used as a tracer for studying the water exchange between different aquifers of the area studied. The influence of the lithological and hydrogeological parameters of the aquifers on radon emanation were investigated.     

Investigation of uranium and thorium concentrations in the fluorite beds of Anatolia by using solid state nuclear track detectors

Uranium and thorium concentrations of fluorite samples taken from the main fluorite beds of Anatolia (Turkey) have been determined by fission fragment radiography using solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs). The fissionable elements concentration of the fluorite samples were found to be 10^–4–10^–7 g/g. The Th/U ratio, obtained for all the fluorite samples, is found to be characteristic for the location of the samples. Some correlations between the concentration of Th and those of lanthanites and concentration of U and that of Mo or Zr are observed.     

Radiation dose due to radon,thoron and their decay products in indoor environment of Khurja City,U.P., India

Inhalation of radon, thoron and their decay products can cause a significant health hazard when present in enhanced levels in the indoor environment like a human dwelling. In the present work a set of indoor radon and thoron measurements was carried out using time-integrated passive twin cup dosimeters containing LR-115 Type II solid state nuclear track detectors in different houses of Khurja City in Bulandshahar district of U.P. in India, built of the same type of building materials. The radon gas concentration was found to vary from 9.18 to 23.19 Bq m^?3 with an average value of 16.02 Bq m^?3 (SD = 3.68) and the thoron gas concentration varied from 2.78 to 9.03 Bq m^?3 with an average value of 5.36 Bq m^?3 (SD = 1.58). The radon progeny concentration ranged from 0.99 to 2.51 mWL with an average value of 1.77 mWL (SD = 0.40) and the concentration of thoron progeny was found to vary from 0.30 to 0.98 mWL with an average value of 0.58 mWL (SD = 0.17). The annual effective dose varied from 0.27 to 0.67 mSv year^?1 with an average value of 0.47 mSv year^?1(SD = 0.10).     

Determination of natural uranium in biological samples using the solid state nuclear track detector method

For the solution of most of the problems which are connected to the biological and physiological role of natural uranium in plants and animal organisms about 10⁻¹⁴ g uranium should be determined. However most of the physico-chemical methods for the determination of natural uranium in biomaterials are time-consuming and possess considerable error. On the basis of addition and inner standard methods a version of Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors (SSNTD) method has been developed in order to determine the natural uranium in biospecimens. According to the experimental data simple relations have been obtained for the calculation of uranium concentration in biomaterial and minium uranium concentration in biosolution which can be measured by the detector used. Under irradiation of SSNTD at a thermal neutron flux of (3–5)·10¹⁵n·cm⁻² the detector sensitivity is 2.30·10⁻⁹ g U/ml for glass detectors; 9.60·10⁻¹⁰g U/ml for the detectors made from artificial mica.     

Indoor radon concentration levels in Mexican caves, using nuclear track methodology, and the relationship with living habits of the bats

This work presents the results of a study of the radon levels in four caves in Mexico: Los Riscos Cave and El Judío Cave in the State of Querétaro, and Coyozochico Cave and Karmidas Cave in the State of Puebla. The measurements were made using the passive closed-end cup system, with CR-39 (Lantrack^®) as detection material, and following protocols established for the measurement of indoor radon, developed at the Dosimetry Applications Project of the Physics Institute of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. The radon concentration at one location with Karmidas Cave reached more than 60,000 Bq/m³, while concentrations in the other three caves varied from 83.1–1216.0 Bq/m³, was found. During the study was observed an interesting coincidence between the radon concentration distribution inside the caves, and the bat colonies location. In general, the bat colonies are located at the medium or low radon concentration levels zones.     

Measurement of alpha-decay constant to fission cross section ratio for 237Np, 241Am and alpha to spontaneous fission branching ratio for 243Am using solid state nuclear track detectors

The alpha-decay constant to fission cross section ratio for epi-cadmium neutron induced fission of ²³⁷Np, ²⁴¹Am have been measured using solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs). The measured values were (0.63±0.14)^.10⁹ s^-1.cm^-2, (2.31±0.46)^.10¹² s^-1.cm^-2 for ²³⁷Np and ²⁴¹Am, respectively. The alpha to spontaneous fission branching ratio for ²⁴³Am was also measured to be (2.66±0.50)^.10¹⁰ using SSNTDs. These ratios are useful as signatures for the trace level identification of these actinides.