Abstract
In order to establish the national radon level according to the ICRP recommendations, radon levels should be estimated in different living environments (dwellings, workplaces, hospitals, etc.). A particular attention should be given to the correctness of the radon concentration measurement devices in order to maintain their traceability to primary standard laboratory. Radon monitor systems have thus been calibrated using a NIST standard source which is considered as an important step in standardizing radon measurement methods.In this paper, we describe the system used in our laboratory for the verification against radon response of different radon monitors such as Electret Ion Chamber (EIC) and AlphaGUARD continuous radon monitor (AG), and then we present comparison between these two measurements devices used in some locations at the Centre de Recherche Nucléaire d’Alger (CRNA). As results, EIC system produces results comparable to those produces by the AG system.
Highlights
It is well known that the principal source of exposure to radiation for the general public is from inhalation of radon and its short lived daughters and that the radon exposure risk is higher inside the different living environments than outdoors [1,2,3]
This paper presents the verification method used in our laboratory; it has been performed using a reference radon monitor AlphaGUARD PQ 2000 (AG)
The effect of temperature variation rather than the certified value of the NIST standard source has a considerable effect on the radon emanated from the source as suggested by the supplier [11] and by Mansy et al [12] (0.7 and 0.8% °C-1 respectively)
Summary
It is well known that the principal source of exposure to radiation for the general public is from inhalation of radon and its short lived daughters and that the radon exposure risk is higher inside the different living environments (dwellings, workplaces, hospitals, schools, kindergarten and caves) than outdoors [1,2,3]. Many countries have developed radon survey programs in order to determine average exposures and to identify locations where high radon levels occur [4,5]. The CRNA (Algiers Nuclear Research Center) dosimetry laboratory has been recently involved in the establishment of the national reference level for radon, by conducting a radon survey program. At this end, different measurement methods (ionization chambers, scintillation, and track etched detectors) can be used and the associated detection systems must be calibrated in order to derive the radon concentrations before their use in routine mode. Several different measurement methods may be used to determine the radon concentrations in air. If alternative methods are available, the cost or /and duration of measurement may became the deciding factor
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