Problems with environmental air sampler shelters

Environmental monitoring for airborne particulate radioactivity is usually accomplished using a low-volume sampling system housed in a small weather-proof shelter. Arizona Public Service Company purchased a number of these systems for use in its monitoring program at the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station and conducted several studies to evaluate the consequences of using wooden and metal shelters. In this paper the two shelter designs employed in these studies are shown in the accompanying photographs. The studies demonstrated potential problems relating to inadequate ventilation for the sampling pumps and shelter effects on sampling efficiency.