Micrometer-sized short-lived radioactive aerosol particles for convenient use in laboratory measurements.

For calibration and testing of radioactive aerosol measuring equipment such as continuous air monitors and cascade impactors, and other research applications, it is helpful to have a convenient and relatively safe means of producing radioactive aerosol particles of controlled size and activity. We describe a technique for producing such particles in the micrometer-diameter size range using electrostatic deposition of radon decay products onto otherwise nonradioactive powders of different sizes. An electric field focuses radon decay products (primarily 218Po) onto the surface of a powdered substrate that is then suspended by a technique such as pneumatic dry dispersion. Only a modest-activity commercial 222Rn source (e.g., containing as little as 10(5) Bq of 226Ra) is required, and issues of radioactive cleanup and contamination are minimized due to the short half-lives (26.8 min or less) of the decay products. We report representative results using powders of glass beads, iron oxide, and iron and gold metals in the size range of 0.3 to 30 microm. Yields for the deposited radioactivity per unit concentration of 222Rn gas were of the order of 5 x 10(-7) Bq (214Bi) per milligram substrate per Bq m(-3) of 222Rn for an electrostatic collection time of 30 min.

Soil as a source of indoor 220Rn.

Two suggestions for sources of indoor 220Rn (thoron) have appeared in the literature: 1) building materials and outside air, and 2) soil beneath the house. Due to the difficulty of 220Rn measurement and limited data, both suggestions lack sufficient supporting evidence. We have investigated sources of indoor 220Rn in seven occupied houses in northern New Mexico, U.S. A two-filter system was used to measure indoor 220Rn levels continuously, and 220Rn progeny were measured with single filters and specialized alpha-track detectors. The amount of 220Rn entry from soil was curtailed by cutting off soil gas flow to the indoor air with subfloor depressurization mitigation systems. Four of the houses showed significant reductions in 220Rn with mitigation systems on. The average effect for these houses was to reduce indoor 220Rn levels by 70%. The other three houses had no clear reductions but in one of these houses, the mitigation system was not effective for stopping soil gas flow. Our results provide some of the most clear evidence to date supporting soil as an important source of indoor 220Rn.

Measurements of airborne 212Pb and 220Rn at varied indoor locations within the United States.

Measurements have been made at varied locations within the United States comparing the concentration of 212Pb in air with that of the progeny of 222Rn to see if 212Pb is typically a significant contributor to indoor radioactivity. Auxiliary measurements were made comparing 220Rn with 222Rn. In terms of potential alpha-particle energy, 212Pb is significant (the ratio of its contribution to the combined contribution of 218Po, 214Pb, and 214Bi averaged about 0.6) and may warrant greater consideration as a component of indoor radioactivity. Correlations were found between the concentration of 220Rn progeny and 222Rn progeny, and the concentration of 220Rn and 222Rn. Environmental factors such as transport pathways and ventilation rates which exert a common influence on the concentrations of airborne isotopes provide a possible explanation for these correlations.

An electrostatic precipitator for the study of airborne radioactivity.

An system has been developed to measure airborne radioactivity using electrostatic precipitation for collection and alpha-particle spectroscopy for detection. Features include good energy resolution (e.g. 170 and 300 KeV for full-width half maximum and full-width tenth maximum for 7.7-MeV alpha particles using a 7-cm2 area detector; and 52- and 122-KeV, respectively, using 1.2-cm2 area detector) and versatile computer control for collection, counting and data reduction. Aerosols bearing the radioactive atoms are deposited on a foil tape by electrostatic precipitation for a predetermined time after which the foil is moved under a solid-state detector to count the alpha-particle emissions. Activities are determined at the same frequency as samples are collected. Helium gas can be introduced at the detector to reduce energy loss and improve resolution. Although in principle certain aerosol sizes could be difficult to collect, in practice no difficulties were observed for typical environmental conditions, provided sufficiently low air-sampling rates were used. One important application is the measurement of 222Rn daughters. The sensitivity is such that detection of individual daughter concentrations less than 0.1 pCi/l. with only a 10% counting error is possible.

Two-filter monitor for atmospheric 222Rn.

A two-filter, continuous monitor has been developed for atmospheric (222)Rn. Features include a sensitivity of better than 0.01 pCi/l, a high specificity for (222)Rn, and immediate start up capability. The monitor has been computer modeled to facilitate calibration and selection of operating parameters. The filters are stationary and require no moving parts for control. Field trials indicate high reliability and maintenance-free operation for periods of a week and longer.