Etched-Track Technique in Radon Metrology: Recent Advances and Quality Assurance

Radon is a unique natural element as it is a noble radioactive gas. Radon, as a gas, is of special interest because it is mobile and can carry messages over significant distances within the Earth and in the atmosphere and because inhalation of it can be a health problem. Owing to its radioactivity, radon can be measured with remarkable sensitivity. Long-term passive measurements based on etched-track detectors are very important for incorporating the effects of seasonal, weather, and environmental conditions on radon emanation and migration. Different configurations, such as the diffusion cup technique, sealed cup technique, and “can and bare” technique, are used as passive radon radiometers capable of measuring the time-integrated radon level, radon exhalation rate, and radon equilibrium factor. To obtain acceptable accuracy in the measured parameters and thus in the calculated effective dose from radon exposure, the abovementioned techniques should be qualified and developed. The recent experimental and theoretical precautions are clarified as a quality assurance procedure for passive etched-track radiometer