Mechanisms and Modeling Approaches of Radon Emanation for Natural Materials

抄録

Radon emanation means the escape of radon atoms from solid grains into pore space; it is the very first process that may lead to radon exposure in the environment. Experimental and numerical studies of radon emanation have been diligently carried out since its recognition as a carcinogen. Our previous review of the measured data showed a wide range of radon emanation fractions from natural substances, and then we discussed the effects of environmental factors such as pore water. The present paper provides an overview of the approaches and progress of radon emanation modeling that may be useful for the interpretation of measured data. Recoil and/or diffusion of radon in solid following alpha decay of radium, which underlies the mechanisms of radon emanation, have been incorporated into numerical models. In the calculation based on recoil-based emanation, radium distribution and pore size were the most important parameters, which govern the magnitudes of radon ejections from the birth grain and of radon embedding into another solid surface, respectively. The solid diffusion appeared significant only at a temperature higher than several hundred degrees Celsius. A model is now desired to be developed that incorporates the transport process of radon atoms that are still settled in solid after alpha recoil, considering radiation damage and its resulting inner path network.