Field experience on indoor radon, thoron and their progenies with solid-state detectors in a survey of Kosovo and Metohija (Balkan region)

Abstract

Since 1996/97, indoor radon has been measured in scattered locations around Kosovo. In the most recent campaign, apart from radon, thoron and Rn and Tn progenies have also been measured. The current survey involves 48 houses, in which different detectors have been deployed side-by-side in one room, in order to measure indoor radon and thoron gas with RADUET devices based on CR-39 detectors (analysed by Japanese collaborators) and with direct thoron and radon progeny sensor(DTPS and DRPS) devices based on LR-115 detectors (analysed by collaborators from India). Estimated arithmetic mean values of concentrations in 48 houses are 122 Bq m-3 for radon and 136 Bq m-3 for thoron. Those for equilibrium equivalentradon concentration and equilibrium equivalent thoron concentration based on measurements in 48 houses are 40 and 2.1 Bqm-3,respectively. The arithmetic mean value of the equilibrium factor is estimated to be 0.50±0.23 for radon and 0.037±0.041 for thoron. The preliminary results of these measurements are reported, particularly regarding DTPS and DRPS being set up in real field conditions for the first time in the Balkan region. The results are to be understood under the caveat of open questions related to measurement protocols which yield reproducible and representative results, and to quality assurance of Tn and Rn/Tn progeny measurements in general, some of which are discussed. © The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.