Relationship between the Po-210 activity incorporated in the surface of anobject and the potential alpha-energy concentration

The Po-210 activity in the surface layer of an object is determined by the total deposition flux of Rn progeny. The total deposition flux is mainly a function of deposition fraction and concentration of attached and unattache d progeny. A linear relationship between the activity of Po-210 incorporate d in the surface of a glass object and the average potential alpha-energy c oncentration (PAEC) in air is found by using the Jacobi-Porstendorfer predi ctive model for short-lived Rn progeny. The cumulative exposure to Rn proge ny over a certain time period is also found to be related to the surface ac tivity of Po-210. Th, surface of a glass object can be used as an effective dosimeter for retrospective dose estimation, but with inherent uncertainti es involved. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.