OH production due to radon decay in air

The OH production rate in indoor air caused by radon decay was measured by the chemical amplification technique. The average OH production rate was found to be 4.22 x 105 OH per Rn decay (Bq) within the range of relative humidity from 3.4 to 55.0 percent at 22 degrees C. The relative uncertainty for the above rate is around 24%, which arises mainly from the uncertainty in the reaction rate constants used. This work provided G(OH)-value, 7.70 ± 1.86 number-sign/100ev in air by directly measuring [OH] from radiolysis of water vapor. This result indicates that the mechanism of OH formation by Rn decay in air is neither a single primary radiolysis process of water vapor nor purely ionic reactions. It is the combination of multiple processes. It is also found that there is no obvious relationship between the OH production rate and the relative humidity in this range. Therefore, this work provides both the basic data for the study of radioactive pollution in indoor air and a potentially useful way to produce OH concentrations in air