Measurements of 210Po embedded in glass have been performed with passive detectors in houses ofthree rural communities of Yugoslavia. Field work has been initiated and carried out by the VincaInstitute, Belgrade and analyses have been conducted by SSI (Sweden), UCD (Ireland), NRPA(Norway) and CRR (Italy). Based on 210Po concentration assessments, radon retrospective estimateshave been produced. Fairly good agreement amongst laboratories resulted both for polonium andradon determinations.
In recent years a number of case-control epidemiological studies have taken place and others are inprogress to evaluate the lung cancer risk to the general population from exposure to radon and itsshort-lived progeny in the indoor residential environment. While it is actually long term exposure overpast decades to radon progeny by inhalation that dominates lung doses, for a number of practicalreasons it is radon gas that is measured in these studies.
Implanted long-lived radon decay products in glass surfaces have been used as a measure of pastradon exposure in homes. Special track-etch devices (so-called retro-detectors") attached to the glasssurface, have the ability to specifically measure the implanted activity of 210Po in-situ. Calibratingthese devices for 210Po is fairly straightforward, but the retro-detectors are also sensitive to thebackground activity of the glass substrate.
About two hundred volume traps were retrieved from dwellings in various radon prone areas inEurope. They were analysed for the purpose of retrospective radon assessment. Emphasis is put onspecific problems encountered when using field samples as opposed to laboratory exposed samples. Itwas seen that in very dusty circumstances, direct penetration of radon decay products from the outsideto the centre of the volume traps calls for extra caution. Rinsing the samples is proposed as a solutionand was tested in field and laboratory conditions, showing good results.
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