A LOW COST CONTINUOUS MONITOR FOR RADON GAS

A PRACTICAL AND INEXPENSIVE SENSOR FOR RADON GAS IS PROPOSED. RADON IS A RADIOACTIVE GAS WHICH PERMEATES INTO HOUSES IN MANY AREAS AND IS NOW BELIEVED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THOUSANDS OF CANCER DEATHS ANNUALLY. CURRENT APPROACHES TO RADON MEASUREMENT SAMPLE OVER EITHER TOO SHORTOR TOO LONG A PERIOD, AND PROVIDE LITTLE INFORMATION ON FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO CONCENTRATION FLUCTUATIONS. THESE FACTORS INCLUDE SEASONAL PATTERNS, WEATHER CHANGES, UTILITY USAGE, AND HOME IMPROVEMENTS. THE PROPOSED MONITOR CAN BE LEFT IN PLACE INDEFINITELY BUT CAN RECORD CONCENTRATION INFORMATION ON A WEEKLY BASIS FOR LATER CORRELATION WITH EXTERNAL FACTORS TO DETERMINE APPROPRIATE RADON MITIGATION MEASURES. IN THE PROPOSED WORK, WILL BE ADAPTED FOR USE AS RADON SENSORS BY APPLYING ADSORBING COATINGS TO DE-LIDDED DEVICES.