A simple radon chamber for educational use

Radon chambers are typically able to maintain a constant, known concentration of radon by pumping a constant activity concentration of radon gas into the chamber. A radon chamber has been designed by placing a radon source inside the chamber volume and allowing radon to build up inside the chamber. Because the radon concentration is not constant, calculations have been made to determine the integrated equivalent constant radon concentration in MBqhm for up to 4 d. The chamber, made by placing a radium dial inside an incubator, has interior dimensions of 87.6 cm x 55.9 cm x 51.4 cm for a total volume of 0.25 m. The chamber can produce an integrated equivalent constant radon activity concentration level of 0.013 MBq h m over the initial 24 h, 0.043 MBq h m over the initial 48 h, 0.078 MBq h m over the initial 72 h, and 0.118 MBq h m over the initial 96 h. The chamber can also demonstrate, for educational purposes, the kinetics of the build-up of a radioactive gas in an enclosed environment as well as the kinetics of washout and leakage.