Application of polystyrene films for indoor radon dosimetry as SSNTD

Abstract

In this study, the sensitivities and calibration factors of polystyrene (PS) to (220)Rn and (222)Rn have been investigated. The sensitivity of compact disks (CD/DVD) as thick polycarbonates (PC) to (220)Rn and (222)Rn has been also obtained by applying a new etching condition. Five different brands of X-ray radiology and MRI films with polystyrene base and four brands of CD/DVDs have been studied to assess their applicability as a passive detector for indoor radon monitoring. The comparison between the sensitivities of PS samples, CD/DVDs (as thick PC) and Lexan PC to (222)Rn and (220)Rn shows an improved sensitivity of PS over conventional PC currently being used as solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTD). The sensitivity of X-ray radiology PS films to (222)Rn and (220)Rn was found to be 8.77±0.591 and 0.028±0.006 (cm(-2)kBq(-1)d(-1)m(3)). The sensitivities of MRI PS films to Rn-222 and Rn-220 was found to be 12.2±1.25 and 0.360±0.090 (cm(-2)kBq(-1)d(-1)m(3)). The CD/DVD PC found to have a sensitivity of 0.178±0.013 and 0.0024±0.00013 (cm(-2)kBq(-1)d(-1)m(3)) to (222)Rn and (220)Rn respectively.