Radon in Workplaces the Urgent Need of New Measurements and Devices

Abstract

The existing passive radon monitors, their relative calibration facilities together with the past intercomparison exercises have been mission-oriented towards radon measurements in dwellings. These monitors have been successfully applied throughout the world for radon measurements in homes, characterized by temperatures in the range from 20 to 25°C and a relative humidity less than 50 R.H. A multitude of different problems may arise when these passive monitors are used in environment other than homes, such as in soil and in workplaces, where large humidity up to 100 RH and temperatures anywhere from 0°C to 40°C may be encountered. Under severe environmental conditions, different measurement errors may occur which have remained concealed to date. These errors may be caused by a drastic change of both the radon diffusivity through the and for the monitor housing respectively. permeation membranes or the radon absorption by the plastics, used for the track detector. For the compliance to the assessment of the occupational exposures, it is necessary to eliminate all the possible sources of errors, which may be conducive to litigation. Another important shortcoming of the existing passive monitors is the difficult to turn them on/off daily, as required for radon measurements in workplaces. Finally, most of the problems, listed above, can be solved by the exploitation of a new generation of passive monitors, known as Rn film-badges. These monitors are similar and often identical to neutron film-badges, which have proved to be very successful throughout the world for the personnel neutron dosimetry. In particular, the present paper will describe the unique characteristics of these radon film badges, such as compactness, fast time response, any desired response sensitivity, simplicity in turning them on and off, etc.