Magdalena Długosz-Lisiecka

222Rn distribution coefficient in various organic scintillation cocktails

A set of solvents and commercially available scintillation cocktails were tested to provide inexpensive solvents, which can be applied directly for 222Rn elution from the charcoal vials used for indoor radon determination by means of Pico-Rad detectors. The addition of ethanol provides faster and more accurate transfer of the Rn from the charcoal. This study investigates the ability of solvents added directly to charcoal to efficiently displace radon from the charcoal into the gas and/or solvent phases which may be in close proximity to the charcoal.

The sources and fate of (210)Po in the urban air: A review.

The origin of (210)Po activity and its fluctuations in the air are discussed in this paper. In the case of atmospheric aerosol samples, a comparison of the (210)Po/(210)Pb and (210)Bi/(210)Pb activity ratios makes it possible not only to determine aerosol residence times but also to appraise the contribution of the unsupported (210)Po coming from other sources than (222)Rn decay, such as human industrial activities, especially coal combustion. A simple mathematical method makes it possible to observe the seasonal fluctuations of the anthropogenic excess of (210)Po in the urban air. The average doses of (210)Po intake with food (including drinking water) and inhalation of urban aerosols are usually lower than those from (210)Po intake by cigarette smokers and negligible in comparison to total natural radiation exposure.

Indoor 222Rn concentration in the exhibition and storage rooms of Polish geological museums

The radon exhaled from radioactive mineral collections exhibited in five Polish geological museums may influence its total indoor concentration. Radon concentrations measured in the exhibition halls do not pose a risk for visitors or museum staff. However, air exceeding the ICRP (2007) action limit for workers (equal to 300Bq/m3) was noted in the storage rooms of two museums. Significant222Rn activity concentrations equal to more than ~300kBq/m3were measured inside lead containers where radioactive minerals were stored.