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Thoron Interference on Performance of Continuous Radon Monitors: An Experimental Study on Four Devices and a Proposal of an Indirect Method to Estimate Thoron Concentration

Author

Listed:
  • Christian Di Carlo

    (Italian National Institute of Health, National Center for Radiation Protection and Computational Physics, Viale Regina Elena, 299-00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Marco Ampollini

    (Italian National Institute of Health, National Center for Radiation Protection and Computational Physics, Viale Regina Elena, 299-00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Sara Antignani

    (Italian National Institute of Health, National Center for Radiation Protection and Computational Physics, Viale Regina Elena, 299-00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Mario Caprio

    (Italian National Institute of Health, National Center for Radiation Protection and Computational Physics, Viale Regina Elena, 299-00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Carmela Carpentieri

    (Italian National Institute of Health, National Center for Radiation Protection and Computational Physics, Viale Regina Elena, 299-00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Francesco Bochicchio

    (Italian National Institute of Health, National Center for Radiation Protection and Computational Physics, Viale Regina Elena, 299-00161 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

The performance of continuous radon monitors (CRMs) is usually evaluated under controlled conditions in a radon chamber during calibrations or intercomparison exercises. The impact of thoron on CRMs response is rarely evaluated; in case the evaluation is performed, it is carried out in a controlled atmosphere with relatively constant, homogeneous, and generally high thoron concentrations and very low radon levels. In a real indoor environment, both radon and thoron concentrations are extremely variable, so the thoron interference evaluations reported in the literature are generally not applicable to CRMs used to measure radon concentration indoors. For this reason, an experimental study was carried out with four different CRMs in an indoor environment (an office room) where medium-to-high concentrations of both radon and thoron were expected. Thoron concentration has been separately evaluated throughout two different active monitors. Three CRMs resulted in overestimations of radon concentration by about 10% due to thoron interference, whereas such interference results were negligible for the fourth CRM. However, the thoron interference can also be used to assess thoron concentration by using CRM not specifically designed to do so. Based on the results of this study, an indirect method to assess thoron concentration is indeed proposed, relying on the combination of two identical monitors (one placed right close to the wall and the other one far enough from there).

Suggested Citation

  • Christian Di Carlo & Marco Ampollini & Sara Antignani & Mario Caprio & Carmela Carpentieri & Francesco Bochicchio, 2022. "Thoron Interference on Performance of Continuous Radon Monitors: An Experimental Study on Four Devices and a Proposal of an Indirect Method to Estimate Thoron Concentration," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-9, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:4:p:2423-:d:753711
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yasutaka Omori & Michikuni Shimo & Miroslaw Janik & Tetsuo Ishikawa & Hidenori Yonehara, 2020. "Variable Strength in Thoron Interference for a Diffusion-Type Radon Monitor Depending on Ventilation of the Outer Air," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-9, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Miroslaw Janik, 2022. "Environmental Radioactivity Monitoring and Measurements: Radon and Thoron," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-5, July.

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