Re: Radon and Static charges

[brent rogers <brogers@MPS.OHIO-STATE.EDU>]

Diane,

In my previous life as an outage HP tech, the first thing I would do when there was a  suspected  temperature inversion would be to swipe the always-present rolls of plastic trash bags.  The same static charge that tended to make the hair on my arms stand up as I unrolled them also seemed to attract radon and/or its progeny.  The 100K dpm masslin wipes were kinda neat to make the labor-crew bug-eyed as well.



-Brent Rogers
mailto: brogers@ohstpy.mps.ohio-state.edu

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>
>
> > Region.  The attraction is due to the buildup of static charge which
> > attracts the radon progeny, generally at the points of friction
>
> Which brings me to ponder another question.
>
> Could the radon progeny be attracted to plastic carts, with a large
> amount of plastic bags in them, if there was a buildup of static
> charge in the plastic? We have a problem with monitors alarming very 
> frequently, and wre currently in the process of thoroughly
> investigating this.
>
> Diane Griffiths
> Associate Radiation Safety Officer
> Emory University School of Medicine
> dgriffiths@ehso.emory.edu