High radon levels and adverse environmental conditions in using RAD7.

This article evaluates the performance of six RAD7 detectors, manufactured by American Durridge®, for measuring radon-222 concentrations under extreme environmental conditions and high radon levels at a uranium mine site in Peña Blanca, Chihuahua, Mexico. RAD7 detectors, which use alpha spectroscopy of radon decay products for detection, were tested in controlled laboratory radon chambers and subsequently deployed in the field, showing consistent and reliable responses across a wide radon concentration range from tens of becquerels per cubic meter (Bq m⁻³) to over 274 kBq m⁻³ in soil and up to 88.5 kBq m⁻³ inside the mine. The study also highlights the influence of environmental factors such as temperature and humidity on detector performance and confirms that radon concentrations inside a uranium core drill storage room remained below recommended indoor safety levels. Overall, the RAD7 detectors demonstrated suitability for rapid and accurate radon monitoring in challenging mining environments.