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Experimental testing for radon in laboratory and field using a coupled diffusive membrane and alpha track detector, 2024

Metadata Updated: January 22, 2026

Information on radon occurrence in groundwater systems is important to assess risks from radon exposure. For this study we developed a novel passive method to measure for dissolved radon in groundwater using a coupled diffusive membrane encasing an alpha track (AT) detector. The membrane is gas permeable but water impermeable, which allows for the deployment of AT detectors in aqueous environments. The alpha track (AT) detectors measure the alpha decay of radon as it etches a film seated in the AT. Empirical relations have been developed to convert the etches or tracks from the film of the detectors to a radon concentration. Encasing the AT detectors in a membrane (called MAT detectors) prevents water from deteriorating the film and hindering the etching process. The datasets herein will be used to evaluate the efficacy of the MAT detectors to measure radon dissolved in groundwater . The datasets include (step 1) results from experiments to determine the diffusion rates of radon across various membrane types in a controlled, accredited, radon air chamber, and (step 2) field environmental samples of radon from wells to measure radon in the water column of the well and within the air above the water column of the well. Ambient radon air concentrations are also included as a background reference of radon in the environment. For step 1, the radon measurement results were used to quantify the diffusive properties of membranes subjected to a controlled radon air concentration within the radon air chamber. For step 2, the selected membrane and MAT detectors were deployed in the water column of wells and in the air column of wells located at several test sites throughout the country. Further for step 2, radon concentrations from the aqueous deployment of the MAT detectors were compared to concentrations from conventional radon groundwater samples measured with standard liquid scintillation analysis as a confirmatory measure.

Access & Use Information

Public: This dataset is intended for public access and use. License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

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Dates

Metadata Created Date January 12, 2026
Metadata Updated Date January 22, 2026

Metadata Source

Harvested from DOI USGS DCAT-US

Additional Metadata

Resource Type Dataset
Metadata Created Date January 12, 2026
Metadata Updated Date January 22, 2026
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Maintainer
Identifier http://datainventory.doi.gov/id/dataset/USGS_65de00c5d34eb64889e1a141
Data Last Modified 2024-09-18T00:00:00Z
Category geospatial
Public Access Level public
Bureau Code 010:12
Metadata Context https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.jsonld
Metadata Catalog ID https://ddi.doi.gov/usgs-data.json
Schema Version https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema
Catalog Describedby https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.json
Datagov Dedupe Retained 20260121204831
Harvest Object Id b72733ff-3306-4fc2-93d7-df42c1c3bc37
Harvest Source Id 2b80d118-ab3a-48ba-bd93-996bbacefac2
Harvest Source Title DOI USGS DCAT-US
Metadata Type geospatial
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Source Datajson Identifier True
Source Hash 982aa84388302e67a06c2e3cab715b3ba9745f74ac4971313703b971262decd6
Source Schema Version 1.1
Spatial {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": -116.4259, 36.2379, -116.4259, 46.2248, -71.5938, 46.2248, -71.5938, 36.2379, -116.4259, 36.2379}

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