Low-Cost Radon Detector with Low-Voltage Air-Ionization Chamber.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Geophysics
• Instrumentation

Background:

• Radon gas poses significant health risks in homes.
• Radon detection is crucial for environmental monitoring and potentially for earthquake prediction.
• Existing radon detection methods can be expensive and complex.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and describe a low-cost, easily fabricated radon detector.
• To enable large-scale deployment for earthquake prediction and household radon monitoring.
• To develop a radon detector with low power consumption and without high-voltage sources.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a simple air-ionization chamber for alpha particle detection.
• Developed chamber current-sensing circuitry.
• Proposed an Internet of Things (IoT) sensor grid for data collection.

Main Results:

• Achieved a minimum detectable activity of approximately 50 Bq·m⁻³ for a single measurement.
• Demonstrated measurement times comparable to commercial devices.
• The detector's cost is significantly lower (one order of magnitude) than commercial alternatives.

Conclusions:

• The developed radon detector is a cost-effective solution for both environmental health and geophysical research.
• Its simple design and low cost facilitate mass production and widespread deployment.
• The elimination of high-voltage power sources enhances safety and reduces power requirements.