Prompt retrospective air sample analysis--a comparison of gross-alpha, beta-to-alpha ratio, and alpha spectroscopy techniques

Health Phys. 2011 Feb;100(2):191-200. doi: 10.1097/HP.0b013e3181f10269.

Abstract

The long-standing problem related to prompt analyses in continuous air sampling or monitoring has been the well-known interference of the radon- and thoron-progeny co-deposited on the filtration media with any potential suspect radionuclides. The solutions to this problem have been quite diverse, and have included, for example, simple gross-alpha screening, the use of beta-to-alpha ratios, and/or the use of alpha spectral analyses. In the context of week-long retrospective continuous air sampling, this paper will explain, in detail, the technical basis for the use of the simple gross-alpha screening, beta-to-alpha ratio, and alpha spectrometry techniques and demonstrate the efficacy (or lack thereof) of these methods with simple examples. Although the most sensitive analysis technique for week-long retrospective continuous air samples is no doubt a long-lived count performed typically after at least a four-day decay period, when necessary, certain prompt and semi-prompt techniques discussed here can approach a sensitivity that is within about an order of magnitude of the long-lived count.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Air / analysis*
  • Alpha Particles*
  • Beta Particles*
  • Particle Size
  • Radiation Monitoring / methods*
  • Radiochemistry
  • Spectrum Analysis / methods*