Evaluation of selected modern filter media for use in radon/thoron progeny measurements

We tested a number of air sampling filters to determine their suitability for use in radon/thoron progeny measurements. The main test consisted of sampling a radon progeny atmosphere, then measuring the energy spectrum of the alpha particles emerging from the face of the filter. It was found that Millipore AA, long a favorite for this application, is still a good choice. However, this filter is prone to developing electrostatic charge, which can cause the additional collection of {sup 218}Po during filter handling. Metricel DM-800 is also a good choice, and it is less prone to charging. 12 refs., 3 figs., 2 tabs