[ RadSafe ] Radon/Thoron detection by alpha spec in rain washout scenarios.

[Nick Tsurikov]

Dear Nathan,
Please have a look on one of our Western Australian guidelines:
No.4.3 on airborne radioactivity sampling, here:
http://www.dmp.wa.gov.au/6745.aspx
Specifically - Appendix A showing methods for the measurement of
radon/thoron progeny using short-term air sampling and then alpha counting,
there is a summary of several methods there.
Kind regards
Nick Tsurikov

On Sat, Dec 6, 2014 at 12:03 AM, Nathan Sutherland <sutherln at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Good morning,
>
> I have recently had the opportunity of toying around with the alpha
> spec function in canberra's iCAM system.  The PIPS detector located
> within the instrument seems well suited (aside from cost) to
> discriminate against radon/thoron progeny with regards to contaminated
> personnel.  To my knowledge radon/thoron is traditionally detected
> using proprietary algorithms found in most whole body monitors that
> are capable of alpha detection.  Said algorithm looks to rely solely
> on relative concentration of the activity that has been found,.
>
> Does anyone have any insight as to how effective it would be to have
> "contaminated" staff exit the whole body monitors to have a cursory
> sample taken with an iCAM to aid in direct or indirect detection
> through its ability to perform alpha spectroscopy.
>
> From my limited experience it would seem the only restriction would be
> a function of sample time and of course the possibility of compounding
> results from both anthropogenic and environmental alpha sources.
>
> Thanks!
>
> -Nathan Sutherland
>
> Radbeginner
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