Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 25, 2026
08:23
Analyzing the Photo-oxidation of 2-propanol at Indoor Air Level Concentrations Using Field Asymmetric Ion Mobility Spectrometry
Published on: June 14, 2018
210Pb in indoor air by total alpha measurement
I M Fisenne1, H W Keller, E W Keller
1U.S. Department of Energy, Environmental Measurements Laboratory, New York, NY 10014-4811, USA.
Health Physics
|November 1, 1996
Summary
This study validated measuring lead-210 (210Pb) in indoor air using total alpha activity. Results confirmed total alpha counting is an effective method for determining 210Pb air concentrations.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Radiochemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Lead-210 (210Pb) is a naturally occurring radioactive isotope.
- Accurate measurement of indoor 210Pb is crucial for radiation dose assessments.
- Existing measurement techniques can be complex and time-consuming.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of using total alpha activity measurements for determining indoor air concentrations of 210Pb.
- To compare results from total alpha counting with those from traditional radiochemical analysis.
Main Methods:
- Indoor air samples were collected using low flow rate pumps and membrane filters.
- Collected samples were stored for 1.7 years.
- Total alpha activity was measured by scintillation counting, followed by chemical separation and alpha spectrometry for 210Pb quantification.
Main Results:
- The efficacy of determining 210Pb by total alpha measurement was empirically proven.
- Average indoor air concentration of 210Pb was 340 microBq m-3 by total alpha counting.
- Average indoor air concentration of 210Pb was 360 microBq m-3 by radiochemical analysis.
Conclusions:
- Total alpha activity measurement is a reliable and effective method for quantifying 210Pb in indoor air.
- This method offers a practical alternative for routine monitoring of 210Pb in indoor environments.
Related Concept Videos
03:23Types of Radioactivity
The most common types of radioactivity are α decay, β decay, γ decay, neutron emission, and electron capture.
Alpha (α) decay is the emission of an α particle from the nucleus. For example, polonium-210 undergoes α decay:
Alpha (α) decay is the emission of an α particle from the nucleus. For example, polonium-210 undergoes α decay:
02:59Biological Effects of Radiation
All radioactive nuclides emit high-energy particles or electromagnetic waves. When this radiation encounters living cells, it can cause heating, break chemical bonds, or ionize molecules. The most serious biological damage results when these radioactive emissions fragment or ionize molecules. For example, α and β particles emitted from nuclear decay reactions possess much higher energies than ordinary chemical bond energies. When these particles strike and penetrate matter, they produce ions...
01:29Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Lab
AES is a powerful analytical technique, especially effective when used with plasma sources, producing abundant spectra in characteristic emission lines. The Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP), in particular, yields superior quantitative analytical data due to its high stability, low noise, low background, and minimal interferences under optimal experimental conditions. However, newer air-operated microwave sources are emerging as promising alternatives that could be more cost-effective than...