Radiation Protection Dosimetry 82:257-262 (1999)
© 1999 Oxford University Press
Radon Progeny Activities in the Vicinity of High Voltage Power Lines
The principal objective of the work reported here was to investigate the influence of electric fields from high voltage power lines on the behaviour of short-lived, alpha particle emitting radon progeny in outdoor air. Active and passive measurements of short-lived radon progeny were made at one metre above ground level, at various distances from a 400 kV power line, both when the line was energised and during a period when it was switched off for engineering modifications. Within the limitations of the measurement techniques used no effect at ground level on short-lived radon progeny behaviour due to the power line could be detected. Elevated levels of the long-lived radon decay product 210Po were measured on 36 year old glass insulators taken from a 110 kV power line indicating that electric fields from power lines may remove radon progeny from the air. Radon progeny detection techniques employed were based on the use of solid state nuclear track detectors.