Using SSNTDs in soil and indoors in two mediterranean locations for radon concentration measurements

Abstract

In the frame of an European Project, measurements of radon in the soil and indoors have been carried out using Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors (SSNTD). Two of the involved laboratories Barcelona (Spain) and Montpellier (France) have the same climatic conditions and are geographically close. The Montpellier group uses an open-type dosimeter for soil measurements and an closed-type for indoor measurements, both based on LR-115 detector material, while Barcelona group uses a LR-115 based closed-type dosimeter for soil measurements and a Makrofol based closed-type for indoors. The dosimeters have been calibrated respectively in the SRPI (Swedish Radiation Protection Institute, Stockholm) and the ENEA (Ente per le Nuove Tecnologie, l'Energia e l'Ambiente, Roma) radon rooms and a description of the dosimeters (geometry, sensitivity, background and detection limit) is given. Some results of the soil and indoor radon concentration measurements in both regions are presented.