A new fast screening method for estimating building materials hazard indices with correlated inputs

Abstract

AbstractIn this work we investigate a new fast screening method for estimation of chosen hazard indices (HI) using correlated inputs dedicated for small 3.00 g samples using a novel μDOSE. The system detects α and β particles separately, along with 220Rn/216Po, 219Rn/215Po, 212Bi/212Po and 214Bi/214Po decay pairs. Four separate decay pairs along with α and β particle count rates are used to quantify decay chains. The excess β count rates is used to quantify the 40K radioactivity. This provides radionuclide estimates that are correlated—and this correlation is taken into account in calculating hazard indices with their corresponding uncertainties. Calculated hazard indices are verified against state-of-the-art High Resolution Gamma Spectrometry (HRGS) equipped with a High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector manufactured by Canberra. This research shows that results obtained with the μDOSE system correspond to the results obtained with HRGS and when the activity correlation is taken into account the HI uncertainties are similar in value for both methods.