title: Comparison study and thoron interference test of different radon monitors.
abstract: A comparison study and thoron interference test for different continuous radon monitors were carried out. The comparison study includes three passive diffusion monitors [one pulse ionisation chamber based-Alpha Guard and two silicon semi-conductor based-Radon Scout Plus (RSP)] and one silicon semi-conductor-based active radon thoron discriminating monitor--RAD 7. Radon emanation standard, supplied by National Institute of Science and Technology, has been utilised for the comparison study to qualify the calibration of the continuous radon monitors. All the instruments showed good agreement with the estimated radon concentration using (226)Ra/(222)Rn emanation standard. It was found that the active radon monitoring system is having a higher initial response towards the transient radon concentration than the passive radon monitors studied. The instruments measuring radon concentration without energy discrimination are likely to have some sensitivity towards the thoron concentration. Thus, thoron interference study was carried out in the above monitors. Nine percent interference in measured radon concentration in the Alpha Guard monitor and 4 % interference in the semi-conductor-based RSP monitors was observed. Study indicates that the interference of thoron in radon monitors depends on the area of diffusion of gas, volume of detection and sensitivity factor.
authors: Environmental Assessment Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400 085, India. sumeshcg@barc.gov.in
authors: C G
authors: CG
authors: Sumesh
authors: A Vinod
authors: AV
authors: Kumar
authors: R M
authors: RM
authors: Tripathi
authors: V D
authors: VD
authors: Puranik
mesh_terms: D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D000465:Algorithms; D002138:Calibration; D004058:Diffusion; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004867:Equipment Design; D005740:Gases; D007368:Interferometry / Q000379:methods*; D016014:Linear Models; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D011886:Radon; D017687:Radon Daughters; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012666:Semiconductors; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive; D005740:Gases; D017687:Radon Daughters; D011886:Radon; D012825:Silicon