The Metrological Traceability, Performance and Precision of European Radon Calibration Facilities.

T R Beck ,Luis Quindós,Josef Vosahlik,Arturo Vargas,Claudia Grossi,Cathrin Tolinsson,Hannah Wiedner,Kinga Hening,Franz Josef Maringer,Andrei Antohe,Dejan Kastratović,Patrick Lobner,Tuukka Turtiainen,Constantin Teodorescu,Katarzyna Wołoszczuk,Daniel Rábago,Matej Krivošík,Eliska Fialová ,N Michielsen ,László Szücs ,Jens Ledet Jensen ,Goran Vukoslavović ,A Luca ,Alexandra Cucoş ,Carlos Sàinz ,Cornel Liviu Ţugulan ,F Cardellini ,Petr Otáhal

doi:10.3390/ijerph182212150

Abstract

An interlaboratory comparison for European radon calibration facilities was conducted to evaluate the establishment of a harmonized quality level for the activity concentration of radon in air and to demonstrate the performance of the facilities when calibrating measurement instruments for radon. Fifteen calibration facilities from 13 different European countries participated. They represented different levels in the metrological hierarchy: national metrology institutes and designated institutes, national authorities for radiation protection and participants from universities. The interlaboratory comparison was conducted by the German Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) and took place from 2018 to 2020. Participants were requested to measure radon in atmospheres of their own facilities according to their own procedures and requirements for metrological traceability. A measurement device with suitable properties was used to determine the comparison values. The results of the comparison showed that the radon activity concentrations that were determined by European calibration facilities complying with metrological traceability requirements were consistent with each other and had common mean values. The deviations from these values were normally distributed. The range of variation of the common mean value was a measure of the degree of agreement between the participants. For exposures above 1000 Bq/m3, the variation was about 4% for a level of confidence of approximately 95% . For lower exposure levels, the variation increased to about 6%.

Highlights

The European Council Directive 2013/59/EURATOM requires that the EU member states introduce regulations for protection against radon exposure in homes and at workplaces [1]
From March 2018 to February 2020, an interlaboratory comparison was conducted in the framework of the European Metrology Programme for Innovation and Research (EMPIR) Project Metrology for radon monitoring
Conclusions from 13 different European countries participated in the interlaboratory compariFrom March 2018 to February 2020, an interlaboratory comparison was conducted in the framework of the EMPIR Project Metrology for radon monitoring

Summary

Introduction

The European Council Directive 2013/59/EURATOM requires that the EU member states introduce regulations for protection against radon exposure in homes and at workplaces [1]. In this context, the European metrology institutes are required to create a harmonized quality level for radon activity concentrations. The realization of the measurement quantity with a high degree of agreement between calibration bodies ensures that measurements are comparable and results are mutually recognized in the EU member states. Calibration services from the different EU member states, which preferably represent the respective national reference for the quantity of radon activity concentration in air, were encouraged to participate in the comparison In the framework of the European Metrology Programme for Innovation and Research (EMPIR), the project Metrology for Radon Monitoring (MetroRADON) was initiated, which included an interlaboratory comparison to evaluate the metrological traceability of European radon calibration facilities and to demonstrate their performance and precision when calibrating measurement instruments for radon in the range from 300 to 10,000 Bq/m3 .

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion