In-situ gamma spectrometry can be used for monitoring and determining natural and man-made radionuclide concentrations in the environment. The low detection limit of potential contaminants depends on the natural background variations, including variations in the atmospheric concentrations of radon and its decay products. The scintillation spectrometer response for atmospheric radon was simulated by the Monte Carlo method, and the results were compared with the experimental measurements over large water surfaces. The contributions of atmospheric radon to the natural background were assessed.
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