A novel approach for long-term determination of indoor 222Rn progeny equilibrium factor using nuclear track detectors

Abstract

A detailed study of the measurement principles of airborne 222Rn decay products by means of nuclear track detectors (NTDs), taking into account the range of variation of the parameters influencing their concentration indoors, has shown that it is not possible for the existing methods to obtain the associated long-term equilibrium factor with an appropriate accuracy. For this reason, we have established a novel approach based on the new concept of reduced equilibrium factor, which can be obtained from the only measurement of airborne 222Rn and its α-emitter daughter ( 218Po and 214Po) concentrations using a passive, integrating and multi-component system of NTDs. We have found that the equilibrium factor has a linear dependence on the reduced equilibrium factor regardless the values taken for the rates of ventilation, of aerosol attachment and of surface deposition. By using well-controlled exposures in a reference laboratory, we have shown that the equilibrium factor values determined with our system agree with those obtained by active monitors. Finally, as a pilot test, several dosimeters were exposed in an inhabited Swedish single-family house. The results of this exposure suggest the usefulness of this method to perform routine surveys in private homes and in workplaces in order to estimate the annual effective dose received by the general public and the workers due to the presence of 222Rn daughters.