Radon-immune air monitor for plutonium
The gross alpha activity in particulate-associated daughters of radon in the work environments may be many times that of one MPC/sub a/ of /sup 239/Pu or /sup 238/Pu. The daughters of radon emit both alpha and beta particles. The ratio of the alpha-to-beta activity is variable and a function of several factors. In spite of this variability, the ratio changes slowly with time and has upper and lower bounds in buildings that have controlled ventilation. This provides the basis for the development of an air monitor in which the radon interference is virtually eliminated. The radon-immune air monitor has three detectors: one that detects the alpha activity on the filter, one that detects the beta activity on the filter plus gamma background, and one that observes gamma background. The counts from these detectors are fed to a computer that is programmed with an algorithm for computing the non-radon-associated alpha activity.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-26
- OSTI ID:
- 5215341
- Report Number(s):
- ORNL/TM-8389; ON: DE82019892
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
PLUTONIUM 238
RADIATION MONITORS
PLUTONIUM 239
AIR SAMPLERS
DAUGHTER PRODUCTS
INTERFERENCE
RADON
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FLUIDS
GASES
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MONITORS
NONMETALS
NUCLEI
PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
RADIOISOTOPES
RARE GASES
SAMPLERS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
500300* - Environment
Atmospheric- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)