title: Towards the use of small amounts of activated charcoal along with well-type NaI(Tl) detector for indoor radon measurements.
abstract: The feasibility of using small quantities of activated charcoal and a 7.6 cm x 7.6 cm NaI(Tl) well-type detector was investigated for indoor radon measurements. Vials, filled with 10 g of charcoal, were exposed for different indoor radon concentration levels typical of Kuwait dwellings. After exposure, the vials were sealed and kept for 3 h to allow radon to come into radioactive equilibrium with its progenies and were then analysed by gamma-ray spectrometry using the well-type NaI(Tl) detector. The variation of radon absorption by the vials filled with charcoal with exposure time was also studied. A comparative study of the present technique with the standard technique of using 70 g charcoal canisters and flat NaI detector was also performed. After establishing the suitability of the technique, the charcoal vials were then used to investigate the effect of air-ventilation on the concentration levels of the indoor radon. Results show that there is a reduction in the radon concentration level (up to 25%) when the air-ventilation system was switched on. The paper presents the results of the study on the feasibility of combining small amounts of activated charcoal with a well-type NaI(Tl) detector in the measurement of indoor radon concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Sciences, College of Technological Studies, Public Authority for Applied Education and Training, Shuwaikh, PO Box 42325, Code 70654, Kuwait. dalazmi@paaet.edu.kw
authors.forename: Darwish
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Al-Azmi
mesh_terms: D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D002606:Charcoal / Q000737:chemistry*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D008832:Microchemistry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012974:Sodium Iodide / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013819:Thermoluminescent Dosimetry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D014462:Ultrafiltration / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive; D002606:Charcoal; D012974:Sodium Iodide