Estimating past radon and radon-related dose from radioactivity in glass:
the Retrospective (RETRO) technique

Since radon concentrations fluctuate, sometimes wildly over days and weeks, a measurement that only captures the radon concentration over a few days time is not very reliable in estimating a person's long-term risk from radon related exposure. Techniques that can measure the radon concentrations over long periods of time give the best  estimate of your long-term radon risk. A new technique, called RETRO, can reconstruct the average radon concentration for periods as long as several decades. Past radon concentrations can be useful to estimate  the  radon exposure that you have already received in your home or to estimate the your future radon exposure if your home is not altered.  These past radon and radon progeny concentrations can be reconstructed from the indelible record that radon leaves in glass.  

The technique requires a glass surface whose age is known, that is at least 5 years old, and that has spent most of its existence being exposed in a your home. Suitable glass can be as old as the memory of the owner.

The technique uses alpha particle detectors to measure the deposited and implanted surface radioactivity.

The glass detector http://www.csbsju.edu/MNradon/RETRO3CHICK_small.jpgon a painting http://www.csbsju.edu/MNradon/RRD03box_small.jpg

and the radon gas detector (in box) in the cupboard below

Track registration detectors can be mailed to a homeowner for installation.   Our new  Retrospective Reconstruction Detector (RRD 3.0)  measures contemporaneous airborne radon, surface deposited and implanted alpha activity. The surface activities are used to reconstructs the contemporary and historical radon and airborne radon radiation dose. These detectors require a  month or more exposure. The RRD 3.0 consists of two parts: a conventional alpha track detector to measure current radon and a small device that is attached to a glass surface for the deposited and implanted activity. These devices are ideal for general survey and exposure reconstruction work. Nearly 3000 of RRD model 2 devices were used successfully in the Iowa Radon Lung Cancer Study.

http://www.csbsju.edu/MNradon/RETOSITU_small.jpg

The long-term radon concentration can be found in as little as 24 hours using sophisticated radiation detectors. The measurement can be made while the glass is still in the house using a portable home system (shown on the left) or the glass can be sent to the lab for analysis, as shown on the right.http://www.csbsju.edu/MNradon/RETRO%20lab_small.jpg

We offer retrospective radon devices and services. Please check back for details or e-mail me to express your interest.

Here are some references for the scientific basis and performance of the technique and the RRD detectors:
�   Steck DJ, Alavanja MCR, Field RW, Parkhurst MA, Bates DJ, Mahaffey JA. 210Po implanted in glass surfaces by long term exposure to indoor radon. Health Phys 83:261-272; 2002.
�    R.W. Field, D.J. Steck, M.A. Parkhurst, J.A. Mahaffey, and M.C.R. Alvanja. "Comparison of retrospective radon detectors". (Environmental Health Perspectives 107(11),901-904; 1999
�    D.J. Steck and R.W. Field. �The use of track registration detectors to reconstruct contemporary and historical airborne radon ( 222Rn) and radon progeny concentrations for a radon-lung cancer study� Radiation Measurements 31(1-6),401-406;1999
�     R.S. Lively and D.J. Steck; �Long-term radon concentrations estimated from 210Po embedded in glass� Health Physics 64 (5): 485-490 (1993).

 

RADON RELATED DOSE RECONSTRUCTION

 

 

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http://www.csbsju.edu/MNradon/RetouchSmallMNRadonLogo2.jpg

Questions/Comments, e-mail: Dr. Steck

Last revised : 10 October, 2007 

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