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Electret passive environmental /sup 222/Rn monitor based on ionization measurement

Journal Article · · Health Phys.; (United States)
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The electret passive environmental /sup 222/Rn monitor (E-PERM) is an extension of electret dosimeters used for measurement of x and gamma radiation. An E-PERM consists of a small cup or canister, having an electret at the bottom, and a filtered inlet at the top. The /sup 222/Rn gas entering through the filter and the decay products formed inside the cup generate ions which are collected by the electret. The reduction of charge (or surface potential) on the electret is a measure of time integrated /sup 222/Rn exposure. An E-PERM of 220-mL volume with an electret of 0.23 cm thickness gave a surface potential drop of 2.5 V for 37 Bq m-3 d (1 pCi L-1 d). The electret voltage was measured with a specially built surface potential voltmeter. This sensitivity was found adequate for a 1-wk measurement of /sup 222/Rn in homes. For longer term measurements, an E-PERM of 40-mL volume and an electret of 51-micron thickness was developed which gave a surface potential drop of 2.6 V for 37 Bq m-3 y (1 pCi L-1 y). Other combinations of chamber volume and electret thicknesses gave responses between these two values. The surface potential of electrets made from Teflon FEP were shown to stay stable even under extreme conditions of relative humidity. The ion collection process in E-PERMs was also shown to be independent of humidity down to an electret surface potential of 100 V.

Research Organization:
Plastic Casting Inc., Olean, NY
OSTI ID:
5645166
Journal Information:
Health Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: Health Phys.; (United States) Vol. 54:1; ISSN HLTPA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

440101* -- Radiation Instrumentation-- General Detectors or Monitors & Radiometric Instruments
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DESIGN
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
HEAVY NUCLEI
HUMIDITY
ISOTOPES
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MONITORING
MONITORS
NUCLEI
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIATION MONITORS
RADIOISOTOPES
RADON 222
RADON ISOTOPES