New metrology for radon at the environmental level

Röttger, A.; Röttger, Stefan; Grossi, Claudia; Vargas, Arturo; Curcoll, Roger; Otáhal, Petr; Hernández-Ceballos, M.A.; Cinelli, Giorgia; Chambers, Scott D.; Barbosa, Susana; Ioan, Mihail-Răzvan; Rădulescu, Ileana; Kikaj, Dafina; Chung, Edward; Arnold, Tim; Yver‐Kwok, Camille; Fuente, Marta; Mertes, Florián; Morosh, Viacheslav

doi:10.1088/1361-6501/ac298d

Cited by 28 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 59 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The validation of radon flux maps, based both on static inventories [ 6 ] and dynamic models [ 7 ], requires high-quality radon flux observations. The traceRadon project [ 8 ] aims to provide a metrological chain for radon flux measurements for their use in the RTM, for GHG flux retrieval, and in the identification of RPA [ 9 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intercomparison of Radon Flux Monitors at Low and at High Radium Content Areas under Field Conditions

Rábago

Quindós

Vargas

et al. 2022

IJERPH

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Interlaboratory exercises are a good tool to compare the response of different systems to the same quantity and to identify possible inconsistencies between them. One of the main goals of the EMPIR 19ENV01 traceRadon project is to harmonize radon flux measurements based on different systems and methodologies. In the framework of the traceRadon Project, two radon flux intercomparison campaigns were carried out in October 2021 at high and at low radon source areas. Four institutions participated in the field intercomparison exercises with their own systems. Every system was based on a specific radon monitor (diffusion or pump mode) and an accumulation chamber (with manual or automatic opening). Radon fluxes were calculated by each participant using both exponential and linear fittings of the radon activity concentration measured over time within the accumulation chambers. The results of this study show mainly: (i) the exponential approach is not advisable due to the variability of the radon flux and the leakage of the systems during long-time measurements; (ii) the linear approach should be applied to minimize the measurement period in agreement with the time response and sensitivity of the monitors; (iii) radon flux measured at high radon source areas (radium content of about 800 Bq kg−1) risks being underestimated because of the influence of advective effects; (iv) radon flux measured at low radon source areas (radium content of about 30 Bq kg−1) may present large uncertainties if sensitive radon monitors with pump mode are not used.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intercomparison of Radon Flux Monitors at Low and at High Radium Content Areas under Field Conditions

Rábago

Quindós

Vargas

et al. 2022

IJERPH

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…For the activity range 1 Bq/m 3 to 100 Bq/m 3 of 222 Rn in outdoor air, a standard is needed for the radon trace method in climate change observation (greenhouse gases). This is a new challenge for the ongoing EMPIR project traceRadon [6][7].…”

Section: Lower Limit Valuesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The metrological gap in traceability chain for the radon concentration and radon flux measurement results to missing radon and radon flux maps for radiation protection in line with EU-BSS [7].…”

Section: Lower Limit Valuesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Support for a European Metrology Network on Reliable Radiation Protection: Gaps in Radiation Protection and Related Metrology

Khanbabaee¹,

Röttger²,

Behrens³

et al. 2021

RAD Conference Proceedings

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In this work, the results of a virtual workshop on gaps in radiation protection and related metrology, which was carried out as part of the EMPIR project 19NET03 supportBSS, are reported. The topics, considered most important in terms of radiation protection metrology, were presented and discussed in 8 main areas: 1. Activity standards, 2. Reference fields, 3. New operational quantities in radiation protection, 4. Measuring devices for radiation protection in medical or industrial applications of ionizing radiation, 5. Measuring devices for environmental monitoring, 6. Type testing, 7. Harmonized handling, transmission, storage and availability of measurement data, 8. Education and training needs. The corresponding research needs and metrological challenges related to the metrology services and the relevant stakeholders are presented.

show abstract

“…Activity concentrations of 222 Rn in outdoor air are in the order of a few Bq⋅m −3 . The implementation of large-scale 222 Rn monitoring networks, to provide concentration data for the environmental sciences, and ensuring their comparability requires calibration techniques, for radon monitors in this concentration range, that are traceable to the international system of units (SI), as addressed in the project 19ENV01 traceRadon [ 14 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of 222Rn Emanation Sources with Integrated Quasi 2π Active Monitoring

Röttger

2022

IJERPH

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In this work, a novel approach for the standardization of low-level 222Rn emanation is presented. The technique is based on the integration of a 222Rn source, directly, with an α-particle detector, which allows the residual 222Rn to be continuously monitored. Preparation of the device entails thermal physical vapor deposition of 226RaCl2 directly onto the surface of a commercially available ion implanted Si-diode detector, resulting in a thin-layer geometry. This enables continuous collection of well resolved α-particle spectra of the nuclei, decaying within the deposited layer, with a detection efficiency of approximately 0.5 in a quasi 2π geometry. The continuously sampled α-particle spectra are used to derive the emanation by statistical inversion. It is possible to achieve this with high temporal resolution due to the small background and the high counting efficiency of the presented technique. The emanation derived in this way exhibits a dependence on the relative humidity of up to 15% in the range from 20% rH to 90% rH. Traceability to the SI is provided by employing defined solid-angle α-particle spectrometry to characterize the counting efficiency of the modified detectors. The presented technique is demonstrated to apply to a range covering the release of at least 1 to 210 222Rn atoms per second, and it results in SI-traceable emanation values with a combined standard uncertainty not exceeding 2%. This provides a pathway for the realization of reference atmospheres covering typical environmental 222Rn levels and thus drastically improves the realization and the dissemination of the derived unit of the activity concentration concerning 222Rn in air.

show abstract

New metrology for radon at the environmental level

Cited by 28 publications

References 59 publications

Intercomparison of Radon Flux Monitors at Low and at High Radium Content Areas under Field Conditions

Intercomparison of Radon Flux Monitors at Low and at High Radium Content Areas under Field Conditions

Support for a European Metrology Network on Reliable Radiation Protection: Gaps in Radiation Protection and Related Metrology

Development of 222Rn Emanation Sources with Integrated Quasi 2π Active Monitoring

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About