A method for determining soil gas {sup 220}Rn (THORON) concentrations
Journal Article
·
· Health Physics
- Dept. of Energy, New York (United States)
A technique has been developed to accurately, precisely, and quickly measure soil gas {sup 220}Rn using commercially available grab-sample scintillation detectors. The method requires two counting periods for each sample: a 1-min count as soon as the sample has been drawn into a scintillation cell, followed by a 5- or 10-min count at least 5 min after the soil gas sample has been obtained. The {sup 222}Rn concentration is determined from the second count. The counts in the first counting period (1-min) due to {sup 222}Rn and its progeny are calculated from the known {sup 222}Rn concentration and then subtracted from the total counts obtained in the first counting period. The remaining counts are due to {sup 220}Rn and its progeny and are used to calculate the {sup 220}Rn concentration. The overall uncertainty when using this method to measure typical soil gas {sup 220}Rn and {sup 222}Rn concentrations [> {approximately}5 kBq m{sup -3} (130 pCi L{sup -1})] was determined to be 19.8% and 10.8% (90% confidence levels), respectively, from analyses of duplicate field measurements. The lowest {sup 220}Rn concentrations that can be measured using this technique while maintaining an overall error no greater than about 30% is {approximately}500 Bq m{sup -3} (13 pCi L{sup -1}), assuming an approximately equal {sup 222}Rn concentration. The {sup 220}Rn measurement uncertainty at this concentration level decreases to {approximately} {+-} 20% if at least three measurements sampled in series are arithmetically averaged. The uncertainty in the {sup 220}Rn measurement at low levels is proportionately affected by the relative concentration of {sup 222}Rn present. 11 refs., 2 figs., 1 tab.
- OSTI ID:
- 369950
- Journal Information:
- Health Physics, Journal Name: Health Physics Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 68; ISSN HLTPAO; ISSN 0017-9078
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
sup 222 Rn, sup 222 Rn progeny and sup 220 Rn progeny as atmospheric tracers of air masses at the Mauno Loa Observatory
Design, calibration, and operation of {sup 220}Rn stack effluent monitoring systems at Argonne National Laboratory
Radon-222, sup 222 Rn progeny, and sup 220 Rn progeny levels in 70 houses
Technical Report
·
Wed Feb 28 23:00:00 EST 1990
·
OSTI ID:6704676
Design, calibration, and operation of {sup 220}Rn stack effluent monitoring systems at Argonne National Laboratory
Journal Article
·
Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1994
· Health Physics
·
OSTI ID:54484
Radon-222, sup 222 Rn progeny, and sup 220 Rn progeny levels in 70 houses
Journal Article
·
Wed Feb 28 23:00:00 EST 1990
· Health Physics; (USA)
·
OSTI ID:7138676