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Title: The development and field testing of a system for determination of ultrafine activity particle size distribution and working levels

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6405404· OSTI ID:6405404

Recent investigations of radon decay products in indoor air have shown that what has been called the unattached'' fraction is in fact an ultrafine size aerosol with diameters in the range of 0.5 to 10 nm. There are a number of difficulties in characterizing particles in this size range. Classical diffusion batteries using screens with high mesh numbers do not have the resolution to give detailed information for the ultra fine range. The use of single screens of differing mesh numbers (Graded Screen Arrays) either in parallel or in a stack configuration can be used to provide these results. However, accurately measuring the activity directly attached to the screens is difficult because of the attachment of some activity to the back side of the screen and the distribution of activity around the individual screen wires. A continuous monitoring system that provides information on both the size and charge distributions on these important size range particles has been constructed and its behavior characterized in the laboratory. It has now been field tested and employed in several field studies to determine the exposure of individuals to radon progeny in the indoor environment. 22 refs., 1 fig., 1 tab.

Research Organization:
Clarkson Univ., Potsdam, NY (USA). Dept. of Chemistry
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE/ER
DOE Contract Number:
FG02-89ER60876
OSTI ID:
6405404
Report Number(s):
DOE/ER/60876-1; ON: DE91004048
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English