Abstract
The measurement of the 214Po concentration in air with Makrofol-DE detectors is useful to estimate the long-term averaged equilibrium factor indoors. To differentiate α-particles emitted by 214Po from those emitted by 218Po and 222Rn, the detector must register only α-particles with energies between 6.2 and 7.5 MeV. The required energy response is obtained only if a removed layer of about 43 μm is achieved in a chemical etching of the detector. The methodology used to determine the etching conditions is described in this paper. The optimum conditions found are: a) chemical etching for 6 h at a temperature of 40 °C, using 7.5 M KOH mixed with 50 % ethanol as an etchant, and b) electrochemical etching for 1 h at a frequency of 3 kHz and an electric field strength of ∼34 kV cm-1. Several dosimeters have exposed during 2 months in dwellings located in the Barcelona area, Spain. A 214Po averaged concentration of (13.6 ± 8.6) Bq m-3 was obtained. © 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 313-318 |
Journal | Radiation Measurements |
Volume | 31 |
Issue number | 1-6 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 1999 |
Keywords
- 214 Po concentration
- Energy response
- Makrofol-DE detector
- α-particles