Intercomparison of Radon Flux Monitors at Low and at High Radium Content Areas under Field Conditions

Daniel Rábago, Luis Quindós, Arturo Vargas, Carlos Sainz, Ileana Radulescu, Mihail-Razvan Ioan, Francesco Cardellini, Marco Capogni, Alessandro Rizzo, Santiago Celaya, Ismael Fuente, Marta Fuente, Maria Rodriguez and Claudia Grossi
Additional contact information
Daniel Rábago: Radon Group, University of Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain
Luis Quindós: Radon Group, University of Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain
Arturo Vargas: Laboratory of 222Rn Studies, Institut de Tècniques Energètiques, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Carlos Sainz: Radon Group, University of Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain
Ileana Radulescu: Horia Hulubei National Institute for R&D in Physics and Nuclear Engineering, 077125 Magurele, Romania
Mihail-Razvan Ioan: Horia Hulubei National Institute for R&D in Physics and Nuclear Engineering, 077125 Magurele, Romania
Francesco Cardellini: National Institute of Ionizing Radiation Metrology (INMRI)—Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Via Anguillarese 301, 00123 Rome, Italy
Marco Capogni: National Institute of Ionizing Radiation Metrology (INMRI)—Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Via Anguillarese 301, 00123 Rome, Italy
Alessandro Rizzo: Radiation Protection Institute (IRP)—Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Via Anguillarese 301, 00123 Rome, Italy
Santiago Celaya: Radon Group, University of Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain
Ismael Fuente: Radon Group, University of Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain
Marta Fuente: Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement, (LSCE-IPSL), CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, Université Paris-Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
Maria Rodriguez: Laboratory of 222Rn Studies, Institut de Tècniques Energètiques, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Claudia Grossi: Laboratory of 222Rn Studies, Institut de Tècniques Energètiques, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 08028 Barcelona, Spain

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 7, 1-20

Abstract: Interlaboratory exercises are a good tool to compare the response of different systems to the same quantity and to identify possible inconsistencies between them. One of the main goals of the EMPIR 19ENV01 traceRadon project is to harmonize radon flux measurements based on different systems and methodologies. In the framework of the traceRadon Project, two radon flux intercomparison campaigns were carried out in October 2021 at high and at low radon source areas. Four institutions participated in the field intercomparison exercises with their own systems. Every system was based on a specific radon monitor (diffusion or pump mode) and an accumulation chamber (with manual or automatic opening). Radon fluxes were calculated by each participant using both exponential and linear fittings of the radon activity concentration measured over time within the accumulation chambers. The results of this study show mainly: (i) the exponential approach is not advisable due to the variability of the radon flux and the leakage of the systems during long-time measurements; (ii) the linear approach should be applied to minimize the measurement period in agreement with the time response and sensitivity of the monitors; (iii) radon flux measured at high radon source areas (radium content of about 800 Bq kg −1 ) risks being underestimated because of the influence of advective effects; (iv) radon flux measured at low radon source areas (radium content of about 30 Bq kg −1 ) may present large uncertainties if sensitive radon monitors with pump mode are not used.

Keywords: exhalation; traceRadon; proficiency test; interlaboratory comparison (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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