In-field radon measurement in water: a novel approach

S A Talha; R J de Meijer; R Lindsay; R T Newman; P P Maleka; I N Hlatshwayo

doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2010.07.005

In-field radon measurement in water: a novel approach

J Environ Radioact. 2010 Dec;101(12):1024-31. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2010.07.005. Epub 2010 Sep 15.

Authors

S A Talha¹, R J de Meijer, R Lindsay, R T Newman, P P Maleka, I N Hlatshwayo

Affiliation

¹ Department of Physics, University of the Western Cape, Bellville 7535, South Africa. siddig.talha@gmail.com

PMID: 20832920
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2010.07.005

Abstract

This paper presents a novel approach of measuring radon in-water in the field by inserting a MEDUSA gamma-ray detector into a 210 L or 1000 L container. The experimental measurements include investigating the effect of ambient background gamma-rays on in-field radon measurement, calibrating the detector efficiency using several amounts of KCl salt dissolved in tap water, and measuring radon in borehole water. The results showed that there is fairly good agreement between the field and laboratory measurements of radon in water, based on measurements with Marinelli beakers on a HPGe detector. The MDA of the method is 0.5 Bq L⁻¹ radon in-water.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Calibration
Radiation Monitoring / methods*
Radon / analysis*
Spectrometry, Gamma
Water Pollutants, Radioactive / analysis*
Water Supply / analysis*
Water Supply / standards

Substances

Water Pollutants, Radioactive
Radon