Long-term comparison and performance study of consumer grade electronic radon integrating monitors

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Health Physics
• Radiation Detection

Background:

• Radon exposure is a significant health risk, necessitating accurate monitoring.
• Consumer-grade Electronic Radon Integrating Monitors (ERIM) offer a potential solution for widespread radon detection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the performance of seven consumer-grade ERIMs and passive etched track detectors.
• To compare their accuracy against reference instruments under controlled radon concentrations.

Main Methods:

• Monitors and detectors were exposed to average radon concentrations of 4781 Bq m⁻³ and 166 Bq m⁻³ for three months.
• Performance was assessed by measuring bias, precision, and measurement errors compared to Atmos 12DPX and AlphaGUARD P30.
• Calibration factors were analyzed over time to assess stability.

Main Results:

• UKHSA passive radon detectors demonstrated excellent performance (<10% error) at both high and low exposures.
• AlphaE, Canary, and Ramon ERIMs performed well (>4000 Bq m⁻³), but only Radon Scout Home maintained <10% error below 200 Bq m⁻³.
• Other ERIMs showed significant performance degradation (20-50% error) at lower concentrations, with calibration factors varying by -46% to +63% between 2019 and 2023.

Conclusions:

• Consumer-grade ERIMs exhibit variable accuracy, particularly at lower radon levels.
• Regular calibration and maintenance are crucial for reliable radon monitoring with these devices.
• Passive etched track detectors and the Radon Scout Home show promise for accurate radon assessment.