Re:Leak Testing of Radium sources

[ehsnet!hps (HPS)]

Reply-to: Johnny.Brandon@p0.f13.n233.z1.fidonet.org (Johnny Brandon)
Fido-To: romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu!gsosun1.gso.ur

 r> I used a proportional counter and calculated the beta activity first. 
 
what was the alpha cpm? how was the smear obtained: direct swipe or did 
you seal the filter paper with the source (assuming it's small enough) 
in a plastic bag for a few days/week?  you also need to consider whether 
or not your activity is from the mother (ra-226) or daughters (rn-222 
and it's prodigy).  recount you swipe approximately 4 days later (3.8 
days i believe is the correct time span) and if you have a drastic 
reduction in the alpha/beta count rate(s) your activity is rn-222.
however, useless the source is designed to emit rn-222 it sounds like 
you have a leaker even if it's not above the "magic" .005 mike 
threshold.
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