The Atmospheric Radioactivity team undertakes measurement, prediction and evaluation of radon, thoron and their progeny in industry and the natural environment. Many established and some novel radon applications for solving scientific and industrial problems have been pursued. Projects range from assessment of radon-related hazards to the use of radon as a tracer of polluted air masses for global air transport studies. Many of the tasks are at the forefront of research in the field and novel instruments have to be developed.

The team is keen to establish new projects and links, particularly in the following areas:

• the application of established and the development of new radon-related methods in industry
• modelling and verification of global circulation models
• collaboration with interested university groups and Commonwealth /State research and regulatory agencies.

The atmospheric radioactivity laboratory is equipped with analytical instrumentation for measuring an extended range of radon and radon progeny concentrations and radon emanation and exhalation rates in gaseous, liquid, solid and mixed phase samples. The analytical laboratory instrumentation includes a radon calibration chamber, a radon rig, and liquid scintillation counter and gamma spectrometers. There is also field instrumentation for monitoring radon concentration in air and determining radon and thoron flux density.

Field instrumentation is a very important component of the radon group facilities. Instrumentation developed by ANSTO includes a series of radon detectors and a radon and thoron emanometer. The detectors have been designed to monitor radon concentration in air with a time resolution of less than one hour in harsh environments and without any maintenance for prolonged periods. The high sensitivity has a lower limit of detection of only 10 mBq m^-3. The emanometer is used for determining radon and thoron flux density at environmental levels. Sampling time can be as low as one hour. The field instruments are supported and complemented by radon analytical facilities.

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