AW: [ RadSafe ] Determining Radon

[Franz Schönhofer]

Douglas,

I do not know what the PCM-2 or a whole body gas proportional frisker
is. Something completely new to me. I do not know what your educational
background is, but sure it is not in radiation protection or radon.
Moreover I think it is the wrong way to buy whatever instrument and then
asking how to use it to solve a problem. I have always adhered to the
principle of first consider what the problem was , what and to what
concentration to measure and then chose the necessary equipment. 

Radon is a noble gas, which does not form any compounds with other
elements and which does not cause any contamination itself. It is its
daughters which are harmful. Where do you want to measure the gas radon?
On skin or clothing? All you could measure is daughter products. Your
procedures are simply wrong, because a contamination by radon gas is not
possible. 

My proposal: Hire a real radiation protection professional, who would
explain to your bosses the principles of radon decay and establish
reasonable criteria for contamination. 

Best regards,

Franz
 

Franz Schoenhofer
PhD, MR iR
Habicherg. 31/7
A-1160 Vienna
AUSTRIA
phone -43-0699-1168-1319


> -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
> Von: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl] Im
> Auftrag von cobdw at tds.net
> Gesendet: Sonntag, 24. April 2005 16:19
> An: radsafe at radlab.nl
> Betreff: [ RadSafe ] Determining Radon
> 
> Our soil remediation project just acquired a PCM-2.  This is a whole
body
> gas proportional frisker set up to detect alpha and beta
contamination.
> Since we are a soil remediation project, we are subject to radon gas.
Per
> our procedures, we are required to report all personal skin and
clothing
> contaminations with the exception of contamination due to radon gas.
I
> was wondering if anyone out there has had experience with this type of
> instrument in detecting radon gas and what methodology is used in the
> field to determine if the alarms are due to radon or real
contamination?
> Please keep in mind that we do not have a count room available with
the
> gamma spec. capabilities.  We are limited to field instruments only.
> 
> Thank you in advance for all replies to this inquiry.
> 
> Douglas Coble
> 
> 
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