Integrated measurements of short-lived 222Rn progeny by rotating filters.
The dependence of the risk from inhalation of radon progeny on their disequilibrium suggests that the measurements of the time-integrated concentrations of each of the short-lived radon progeny are necessary for complete risk estimations. This paper presents a method that, in principle, allows the determination of the integrated specific volume activities in air of each of the radionuclides 218Po, 214Pb, 214Bi, 212Pb, and 212Bi. The method employs thermoluminescence detectors positioned around uniformly rotating filters. Two prototypes that are suitable for practical applications are described and mathematical expressions for data processing are given. Experiments with these "rotating filter dosimeters" were conducted in atmospheres radiologically dominated by 222Rn progeny. The comparison between the results obtained by the proposed method and those given by simultaneously conducted series of instantaneous grab-sampling measurements support the conclusion that the method works for 222Rn progeny. The method can be experimentally extended for 220Rn progeny as well as for unattached fractions.
Department of Atomic Physics, Faculty of Physics, Sofia University, Bulgaria.
D S
DS
Pressyanov
M G
MG
Guelev
O J
OJ
Pentchev
D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation; D011874:Radiometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D011886:Radon; D017687:Radon Daughters; D013819:Thermoluminescent Dosimetry / Q000295:instrumentation
D017687:Radon Daughters; D011886:Radon