Determination of the Radon Concentration
Radon measurement in living spaces and workplaces; Dose calculation;
What Is Radon?
Radon is a naturally occurring noble gas. It is colorless, odorless and tasteless, and is not flammable. As a radioactive intermediate product in a natural decay series, it is present wherever the decay products of uranium or thorium are released: in soil, rocks, air and water.
Radon Dosimeter
We measure radon in ambient air using nuclear track films. “Heavy” particles such as α particles, which are produced when radon decays, leave a small indentation on the nuclear track film. The radon dosimeters are positioned at various locations in the building for a chosen period. After the exposure period, the nuclear track films are chemically and electrochemically etched in order to deepen the indentations.
The number of “impacts” on the film is evaluated and is a measure of the radon concentration in a room for a given measurement period. An effective dose can be determined from the radon concentration and the exposure period at this location.
Radon in Buildings
In buildings, radon penetrates through the stone into basement rooms in particular and is then dispersed throughout the entire building. It diffuses from the ground (in particular granite), building materials (in particular slag material and industrial plaster) and drinking water into living and working areas. The same behavior is exhibited in caves and galleries.
Here too, radon diffuses from stone and water. In Austria, almost half of the natural radiation to which the population is exposed can be attributed to radon.
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Contact
Dr. Katharina Horrak
T: + 43 (0) 50550-2508
F: + 43 (0) 50550-2544
katharina.horrak(at)seibersdorf-laboratories.at