Northampton Electronic Collection of Theses and Research

The practical use of electrets in a public health radon remediation campaign

Denman, A. R., Groves-Kirkby, C. J., Phillips, P. S., Crockett, R. G. M., Woolridge, A. C. and Gillmore, G. K. (2005) The practical use of electrets in a public health radon remediation campaign. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity. 84(3), pp. 375-391. 0265-931X.

Item Type: Article
Abstract: As part of a long-term assessment of domestic radon in Northamptonshire, England, a batch of 50 commercially available electrets was deployed for nearly 1000 exposures, individual exposure periods ranging from one to eight weeks. Responsivity was comparable with that of recently-calibrated Durridge RAD-7 continuously-monitoring equipment. Voltage history analysis indicated mean voltage decay during manufacturers' QA assessment of 0.059 ± 0.026 V day−1, increasing to 0.114 ± 0.073 V day−1 during storage to first use and to 0.204 ± 0.49 V day−1 during inter-deployment storage. At a representative elevated radon concentration of 500 Bq m−3, the resulting perturbation is 3% over a 7-day deployment; at the typical mean Northamptonshire level of 80 Bq m−3 it approaches 22%. Each electret can be used for up to 25 measurements, which makes the technology attractive for organisational use. It is not suited for deployment by individual householders
Uncontrolled Keywords: Radon; Electret; Ageing; Environment; Domestic property; Public health
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences > GE300 Environmental management
T Technology > TD Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering > TD885.5 Radon pollution
R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA565 Environmental health
Creators: Denman, Anthony R, Groves-Kirkby, Chris J, Phillips, Paul S, Crockett, Robin G M, Woolridge, Anne C and Gillmore, Gavin K
Northamptonshire and East Midlands: Environment
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes: University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Faculty of Health & Society
Date: 1 June 2005
Date Type: Publication
Page Range: pp. 375-391
Journal or Publication Title: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity
Volume: 84
Number: 3
Language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2005.04.012
ISSN: 0265-931X
Status: Published / Disseminated
Refereed: Yes
Related URLs:
URI: http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/3

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