NAREL Standard Operating Procedures for Radon-222 Measurement Using Diffusion Barrier Charcoal Canisters
- National Air and Radiation Environmental Laboratory, Montgomery, AL (United States)
Radon monitoring procedures for the National Air and Radiation Environment Laboratory (NAREL) are described. Radon is detected by sorption to activated charcoal, followed by detection of gamma ray emissions from the radon decay products lead-214 (295 KeV and 392 KeV) and bismuth-214 (609 KeV). The activated charcoal is held in an 8 ounce metal can, under a polyethylene diffusion barrier and a stainless steel screen, 30--50% open. The polyethylene barrier reduces water absorption by the charcoal, and improves integration over the exposure period. The proper use of the container is described, as is the counting system and calibration of the detecting system. Fabrication of reference standards and background canisters is described. Equations and sample calculations to determine radon concentrations are given. All terms in the equation are defined, and all calibration factors are calculated. The minimal detectable amounts of radon as a function of detector exposure time are calculated.
- Research Organization:
- National Air and Radiation Environmental Laboratory, Montgomery, AL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USEPA
- OSTI ID:
- 6219194
- Report Number(s):
- EPA-520/5-90-032; ON: TI91008155
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACTIVATED CARBON
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
EMANOMETERS
CALIBRATION
RADON 222
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
BISMUTH 214
CALIBRATION STANDARDS
GAMMA RADIATION
LEAD 210
LEAD 214
POLONIUM 214
POLONIUM 218
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
SORPTION
US EPA
ADSORBENTS
AIR POLLUTION
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BISMUTH ISOTOPES
CARBON
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
HEAVY NUCLEI
IONIZING RADIATIONS
ISOTOPES
LEAD ISOTOPES
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MICROSEC LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NONMETALS
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
POLLUTION
POLONIUM ISOTOPES
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIATIONS
RADIOISOTOPES
RADON ISOTOPES
SECONDS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
STANDARDS
SURFACE PROPERTIES
US ORGANIZATIONS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
440101* - Radiation Instrumentation- General Detectors or Monitors & Radiometric Instruments
320107 - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Building Systems- (1987-)
540130 - Environment
Atmospheric- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)