Interim results of the prompt alpha-track radon detector study. [Remedial Action Program]

Technical Report · Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1986

OSTI ID:5565876

George, J L; Langner, Jr, G H

The Technical Measurements Center is evaluating the reliability of using short-term exposures of alpha-track radon detectors to estimate annual average radon-daughter concentrations (RDC) in residences in the Grand Junction, Colorado, area. This Prompt Alpha-Track Study was initiated in the summer of 1985 and will be completed in the summer of 1986. Two sets of data are being collected, each consisting of two-, three-, four-, five-, and six-month-long exposures of alpha-track radon detectors. October 2 was selected as the midpoint of the Fall set of exposures and April 2 as the midpoint of the Spring set of exposures. These dates were selected after analyzing the RDC data collected by the Colorado Department of Health during the Grand Junction Remedial Action Program. This interim report on the Prompt Alpha-Track Study discusses the preliminary results of the Fall measurements. Terradex Type SF Track Etch detectors were exposed at 50 stations in 34 structures where previous annual average RDC and/or radon data have been collected. Two detectors were deployed at each station for each short-term exposure. Three additional annual detectors were deployed at each station concurrently with the six-month Fall detectors. The detectors were processed at a sensitivity level of 0.2 picocurie-month per liter. Preliminary results indicate that all of the short-term Fall measurements using October 2 as the midpoint of the exposure can reliably estimate the annual average indoor radon concentration in structures. The precision of both the short-term measurements and the methods is acceptable at 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/l). Results of a paired t-test indicate no difference in the measured radon concentration between a short-term measurement and an annual measurement, at the 0.01 level of significance. These conclusions are provisional since only the Fall data have been analyzed. A final report will integrate the Fall, Spring, and annual data.

• Research Organization: Bendix Field Engineering Corp., Grand Junction, CO (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-76GJ01664
• OSTI ID: 5565876
• Report Number(s): GJ/TMC-28; ON: DE86013668
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
EMANOMETERS
RELIABILITY
DAUGHTER PRODUCTS
RADON
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
GASES
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MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NONMETALS
RADIATION DETECTORS
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440101* - Radiation Instrumentation- General Detectors or Monitors & Radiometric Instruments
054000 - Nuclear Fuels- Health & Safety
052001 - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Processing