Verification of radioactive equilibrium to discriminate radon and progeny with LR 115 under a thin film geometry

A system of image analysis is applied to the track analysis of a plastic detector (LR 115). Based on track characteristics the system permits the separation of tracks produced by ²²²Rn and ²¹⁸Po from those produced by ²¹⁴Po. LR 115 was used inside a thin film geometry monitor and irradiated under very low ventilation conditions, where secular radioactive equilibrium between radon and progeny is expected. The monitor is used intending to exclude the entrance of external radon progeny in the sensitive volume of the plastic detector. The radioactive (secular) equilibrium is rapidly attained inside the monitor and equal numbers of particles from ²¹⁸Po, ²¹⁴Po and ²²²Rn are expected to reach the plastic. In order to guarantee good detection efficiency in the restricted volume, and to discriminate alpha energies, the LR 115 piece inside the monitor is covered with an aluminum foil of suitable thickness. The separation of tracks produced by alpha particles of different energies is made through the use of two track parameters related to area and opacity of the tracks. The ratio of tracks produced by (²¹⁸Po and ²²²Rn) and ²¹⁴Po—expected as two—is used to test the separation method in a series of controlled irradiations. Results point to the experimental attainment of radioactive equilibrium inside the monitor supporting the determination of ²¹⁴Po concentration alone, and points to an exclusive entrance of ²²²Rn inside the monitor, at low ventilation rates. This way, in situations where radioactive equilibrium inside the monitor may be considered, the exclusive measurement of radon concentration in the environment is possible.     

Evidence for the radioactive decay of Ra by C emission

Using a magnetic spectrometer and an intense ²²⁶Ra source, first evidence for the radioactive decay of ²²⁶Ra by ¹⁴C emission was obtained leading to a measured branching ratio relative to -particles of (3.2±1.6)×10⁻¹¹. In addition, the decay of ²²²Ra by ¹⁴C emission, previously reported, was clearly observed and an upper limit was set for the emission of ³⁴Si from ²⁴¹Am.     

Soil radon levels measured with SSNTD's and the soil radium content

The source of the radon gas ²²²Rn in the ground air is the soil and the bedrock underneath. The potential radon level in the ground is given by the content of ²²⁶Ra in the ground. The presence of ²²⁶Ra is in turn dependent on the amount of ²³⁸U in the ground, and these two isotopes are not always found to be in equilibrium in a sample of soil or bedrock. Especially if the soil is washed out, the radium content may be reduced. When the soil is the relevant source of the radon gas, it is interesting to look for a possible relation between the radon level and the radium content of the soil.

In this paper we report on measurements of soil radon level carried out with SSNTDs at several European sites. Soil samples were collected at these sites and analysed with gamma spectrometry to determine their radium content. A comparison of the different degree of disequilibrium of radon, defined as the ratio between the actual and the secular equilibrium-with-radium soil radon concentration, found at the different sites and depths is presented. The influence on the result of soil type and climate is briefly discussed.     

Comparative measurements between NTD and GEL detectors for radon gas

Because of the interest in an inexpensive radon monitoring technique and the use of new materials and new methods, this work presents comparative measurements between traditional passive radon detector using nuclear track detector (NTD), and a new method based on the diffusion of radon gas in gels, measuring the quantity of the remainder radioactive solids by the analysis of the gamma radiation from the decay of radon daughters. The methodology of the new detectors is introduced. The preliminary results show a measurable response of the gel material detectors to radon gas. The measurements are compared with those using NTDs CR-39 type for calibration purposes. Both the detection systems, the passive close-end cup system with NTDs and the passive close-end cup gel material detector, were exposed at the same time in the radon calibration chamber to different radon exposition levels from 150 to 3000 Bq/m⁻³.     

Ra in geothermal and bottled mineral waters of Hungary

Geothermal waters have been used on a large scale for bathing, drinking and medical purposes, while the consumption of bottled mineral waters is increasing. In this work, radon and radium activity concentrations of thermal and bottled mineral waters, originating from different regions of Hungary, were studied by different radioanalytical methods. It was found that the thermal springs, which supply the world famous baths of Budapest along the right riverside of the Danube, have high ²²²Rn and ²²⁶Ra activity concentration: up to about 100 and 1 kBqm⁻³, respectively. The radium content of some investigated geothermal waters found in the NE region of the Great Hungarian Plain is even higher: up to several kBqm⁻³. The ²²⁶Ra content of bottled mineral waters, commercially available in Hungary, was determined by gamma-spectrometric method, applying radiochemical separation. The highest value exceeded 2 kBqm⁻³ in the case of the Apenta mineral water, which is a popular brand in Hungary, as well as in Europe and North America.     

确定大气颗粒物平均滞留时间的新方法

从低层大气的基本属性出发,利用大气颗粒物中放射性核素的衰变特性与转移速率等相关信息, 建立了单位体积大气颗粒物中被吸附的放射性粒子数、衰变粒子数和转移粒子数的数学模型, 获得了确定低层大气颗粒物平均滞留时间的新方法.该方法解决了当前相关研究中出现的困惑, 说明了大气具有有限的自净功能,给出了大气颗粒物中同一衰变链上各核素达到活度平衡的条件 及降低平均滞留时间的途径,为大气环境的监测与治理提供了科学依据. 关键词： 大气颗粒物 平均滞留时间 氡子体 监测     

Temperature dependence of the calibration factor of radon and radium determination in water samples by SSNTD

The sensitivity of a ²²⁶Ra determination method of water samples by SSNTD was measured as a function of storage temperature during exposure. The method is based on an etched track type radon monitor, which is closed into a gas permeable foil and is immersed in the water sample. The sample is sealed in a glass vessel and stored for an exposure time of 10–30 days. The sensitivity increased more than a factor of two when the storage temperature was raised from 2 °C to 30 °C. Temperature dependence of the partition coefficient of radon between water and air provides explanation for this dependence. For practical radio-analytical application the temperature dependence of the calibration factor is given by fitting the sensitivity data obtained by measuring ²²⁶Ra standard solutions (in the activity concentration range of 0.1–48.5 kBq m⁻³) at different storage temperatures.     

Behavior of radon progeny in low frequency electromagnetic fields

Whether the electro-magnetic (EM) fields are carcinogenic or not still remains to be discussed from scientific point of view. Recently a possibility was pointed out that increased deposition of radon progeny in the EM-fields should enhance exposure dose to internal body. We investigated the behavior of charged ²²²Ru progeny and aerosols containing them by measuring the pattern and the magnitude of the deposition rate of decay products on both CR-39 track detectors and imaging plates under various conditions. We concluded that the attachment to wire cables should be increased mainly by electric component of low frequency EM-fields and possibly by electric field induced by strong changing magnetic ones.     

A photometry method for measuring tracks density on SSNTDs

The purpose of this work is to determine alpha track density on solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs) such as CR-39 efficiently with minimal time. Samples of CR-39 were irradiated with different doses from an alpha emitter. These samples were chemically etched and the tracks counted using an optical microscope. The intensity of the transmitted light (λ=400–1200 nm) through irradiated and etched CR-39 was measured using a photomultiplier. For all wavelengths used in this study, it is found that the transmittance of light decreases as irradiation time increases. In addition, the calibration factor was calculated from the relation between track density on CR-39 and light transmittance. The procedure appeared to be a good and fast technique for determining radon concentration in the environment and consequently dose reading.     

Exhalation of radon and its carrier gases in SW Taiwan

Gas compositions of mud volcanoes reveal multiple sources for gas exhalation in SW Taiwan. For comparison, two sites, Yan-chao (YC) and Chung-lun (CL), were chosen for measurements of soil Rn concentrations using a portable radon detector. The ²²²Rn concentrations at the YC site were ca. 5200 Bq/m³. However, the average ²²²Rn concentrations at the CL site exhibited higher value of ca. 16,800 Bq/m³. With the reference of the gas flux and compositions from the nearby mud pool, the soil ²²²Rn concentrations are largely controlled by the flux of carrier gases exhaled from deep reservoirs.     

Measurement of indoor Rn using CR-39 under a thin film geometry

In this work an assembly for indoor ²²²Rn measurement is presented. This assembly is made up of two acrylic plates (14 cm×14 cm) separated by a distance of 4 mm. To prevent radon daughters from outside entering the assembly (and produce alpha particle tracks striking the CR-39 detector placed in the central region of one of these plates), the borders of these plates were progressively closed, leaving open only a rectangular aperture of 5 mm×4 mm. The size of this opening was determined experimentally, by exposing in two indoor environments assemblies with different apertures as follows: (i) all borders open; (ii) two borders closed; (iii) three borders closed; (iv) four borders closed but one containing a 6 cm×4 mm opening; (v) four borders closed but one containing a 2.5 cm×4 mm opening and (vi) four borders closed but one containing a 0.5 cm×4 mm opening. Track density shows a noticeable decrease between assembly (i) and assembly (iii), remaining constant for smaller openings. Only ²²²Rn, a noble gas, should enter the assembly independently of the opening size.     

Simultaneous measurement of radon, radon progeny and thoron concentrations using Makrofol-DE detectors

In this study we describe the set-up of a new passive integrating system to measure simultaneously ²²²Rn, ²²²Rn progeny (²¹⁸Po and ²¹⁴Po) and ²²⁰Rn concentration indoors. It consists of four Makrofol-DE (polycarbonate) circular foils. Two are enclosed within two diffusion chambers—each one with a different filter membrane—to measure ²²²Rn and ²²²Rn+²²⁰Rn. The other two foils are kept in direct contact with air and are electrochemically etched at different conditions to obtain the ²²²Rn daughters. Theoretical sensitivities of each Makrofol-DE foil are calculated using Monte-Carlo technique. The calculations are performed taking into account: (1) the Bethe–Bloch's expression for the stopping power of heavy charged particles in a medium, (2) the properties and behaviour of ²²²Rn, ²²⁰Rn and their progeny in the open air and within the diffusion chamber and (3) the etching conditions used to visualise -particles tracks.     

A new technique for measuring radon exposure at working places

A new technique has been developed based on passive diffusion sampling and alpha track detection for monitoring radon exposure at working places. It is based on a device to be turned on and off at monitoring sites to permit accurate measurements of timed exposures. This technique is useful for radioprotection applications on personal and area monitoring of radon volume activity: timed measurement intervals and addition of sequential exposures. Additionally, the device allows accurate calibration with the application of radon reference atmospheres. Calibration facilities have been realized which allow starting detector exposure only at stationary conditions to avoid effects of varying radon concentration during exposure of passive integrating detectors. The contribution of the initial transient to the overall exposure ranged from about 3% to 10% according to calibration protocol. Experimental data evidence better performances of this new technique with respect to other measuring devices for integrating measurements based on radon diffusion samplers and polymeric nuclear track detectors (CR-39, LR-115 and polycarbonate). A better accuracy of calibration factor is obtained. The technical apparatus is presented and preliminary results described.     

Natural activities of U, Th and K in some Indian building materials

The activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K have been determined by gamma-ray spectrometry. The measured activity in the selected building materials ranges from (3.2 to 151.7 Bq/kg), 14 to 63.7 Bq/kg and 24.3 to 121.5 Bq/kg for ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K respectively. The activity concentration of ²³⁸U has been determined using fission track technique and the value ranges from 0.11 to 3.85 ppm. The concentrations for these natural radionuclides are compared with the reported data from other countries. Radium-equivalent activities (Ra_eq) are calculated for the measured samples to assess the radiation hazards arising due to the use of these materials in the construction of dwellings. All building materials have shown Ra_eq activities lower than the limit set in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report (370 Bq/kg), equivalent to external gamma dose of 1.5 mSvyr⁻¹. A good correlation has been observed between ²³⁸U and ²²⁶Ra in these materials.     

Environmental gamma and radon dosimetry in Venezuela

Environmental gamma exposure and radon concentration levels measured in Venezuelan regions are presented. A new generation image analyser was used for particle track counting in CR-39 detectors. Mineral water wells from where water is supplied for massive consumption have an alpha activity around 0.450 Bq L⁻¹ and few of them have concentrations above 50 Bq L⁻¹. Coastal potable water activity is on the average around 5.3 ± 12% Bq L⁻¹. Indoor radon national average is 36 ± 5% Bq m⁻³; in two of the 36 monitored sites, the measured average is above 400 ± 5% Bq m⁻³. In air gamma dose values are between 100 and 144 nGy h⁻¹. In soil, ¹³⁷Cs concentration is around 0.5 and 10 Bq kg⁻¹ at the depth of down to 20 cm. Building materials were included in this study. ⁷Be and ¹³⁷Cs were measured in low concentration in tropical plants on Tepuy-s (sacred mountains in the Amazonas State). Geological active faults were identified by radon concentration measurements using LR-115.     

Comparison of responses of CR-39 and PM-355 track detectors to fast protons, deuterons and He ions within energy range 0.2–4.5 MeV

The paper presents new results of the calibration of the standard CR-39 and super-grade PM-355 plastic detectors, which are applicable for the registration of the protons, deuterons, and ⁴He-ions. The calibration diagram show track diameters vs particle energy for different etching times.     

General expression of the calibration curve for the CR-39 radon track detectors

The CR-39 detectors are widely used as passive radon dosimeters, as well as in physics laboratories or for industrial applications. For what concerns radon monitoring, the calibration curve which is usually adopted corresponds to a linear relation between the actual etched track density and the track density counted by an automatic acquisition system. This linear calibration provides very accurate radon exposure assessments in a restricted range of etched track density, however it neglects the effect of the tracks overlapping that becomes as relevant as the track density increases. In the present work the mathematical expression of the area covered by a set of uniformly distributed tracks is deduced. This result allows then to infer the probability that the system acquires the right track density, providing a general calibration curve for a solid state radon track detector. The process of track production and reading routine is also simulated adopting a Monte Carlo approach, showing that the obtained results are in agreement with the function proposed as calibration curve. Moreover, a linear dependence between the track average area and the rate parameter of the calibration curve has been observed. Finally a semi-empirical correlation based on the previous results is proposed.     

The Radamon radon detector and an example of application

The etched track type Radamon radon detector is presented. As an example of application representative indoor radon survey was performed in Gyergyóremete (Romania) to pilot a study that can be done in other places of the country. Gyergyóremete was selected, because it was built on volcanic rock, where a number of aligning mineral water springs indicates the existence of geological faulting, and therefore, it was suspected that the village could be on a radon prone area. Measurements were done in sleeping rooms at pillow level. Representativity of the sample was ensured by random pull of 120 houses from the stock (hypergeometric statistical model). From the results it can be stated that the percentages of houses expected to have annual average ²²²Rn activity concentration higher than 400 Bqm⁻³ is less than 1%.     

Angular and dose dependence of CR-39 neutron response for shape-selected tracks

A shape selection method corresponding to an energy discrimination was used to eliminate unwanted events disturbing evaluation of CR-39 detectors in detecting tracks induced by particles both of perpendicular and oblique incidence. The angular dependence of the response was examined, detecting fast neutrons from ²⁵²Cf with shape selection technique at various angles and distances. Also, the CR-39 track detectors with the ²⁵²Cf source were exposed to high γ-intensity of a ⁶⁰Co irradiation facility in the range 0.1 to 4.5 kGy, similar to the exposures inside spent fuel assemblies. Using the two functions the lower limit of burnup could be determined by the method.