A new method for studying the transport of radon and thoron in various building materials using CR-39 and LR-115 solid state nuclear track detectors

Radon (Rn-222) and thoron (Rn-220) alpha-activities per unit volume were me asured inside and outside different building materials by using two types o f solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTD) (CR-39 and LR-115 type II). I n addition, the radon and thoron emanation coefficients of the studied mate rials were evaluated. Based on these data. the transport of radon and thoro n across parallelepipedic blocks of the building materials could be investi gated and radon and thoron global sc-activities per unit volume outside dif ferent building material blocks were determined. Moreover, the diffusion le ngth and the effective diffusion coefficient of radon in the building mater ials were evaluated and the total alpha activity due to radon in the atmosp heres of different rooms consisting of different building materials was stu died. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.