Characterization of Radon Detector Response in a Low-Pressure Sealed Chamber Containing Biological Specimens

This study provides a preliminary characterization of the response of a commercially available radon monitor (Airthings View Plus) operated inside a 9-L low-pressure sealed chamber containing biological specimens. Forty-one independent experimental sessions were performed using 5-mL venous blood samples. Radon concentration, temperature, relative humidity, pressure, CO 2 , and volatile organic compounds (VOC) were measured simultaneously under the same experimental conditions. The objective was to characterize detector response under this non-standard experimental configuration and to examine whether variations in the monitored environmental parameters or donor characteristics were associated with the observed radon response. Given the large blood-to-air volume ratio (∼1:1800), any radon transferred from the blood into the chamber atmosphere would be substantially diluted. Background-subtracted radon responses ranged from 2 to 22 Bq m -3 , with a mean response of 12.2 ± 5.2 Bq m -3 . These values were obtained near the practical detection threshold under the present experimental conditions and therefore cannot be interpreted as direct evidence of radon release from the blood specimens. No statistically significant association was observed between detector response and either smoking status or place of residence, and one-way ANOVA likewise showed no significant effect of residence on detector response. The simultaneous environmental measurements provide additional information for interpreting detector behavior under the sealed-chamber configuration. Overall, the findings constitute a preliminary methodological characterization of detector response under the investigated conditions and provide a basis for future studies incorporating quantitative calibration and standardized control procedures.