Insights into Ionizing Radiation Measurement Featured on JOJ 24’s Spektrum 24

The news channel JOJ 24 aired an episode of Spektrum 24 filmed at the Ionizing Radiation Department of the Slovak Institute of Metrology (SMU), focusing on how radionuclide activity is measured and how measuring instruments for ionizing radiation are tested and verified.

Experts from the Ionizing Radiation Department explained the concept of ionizing radiation, clarified the difference between radiation and radioactivity, particularly the distinction between the radiation itself and its sources, and discussed its impact on humans, other living organisms, and the environment.

The program also focused on the radon chamber, which is used to calibrate instruments that measure the volumetric activity of radon in soil air. Viewers learned why it is important to know the concentration of radon in our surroundings, how this radioactive gas naturally occurs in soil, building materials, and indoor environments, and what potential health risks are associated with elevated levels.

In the broadcast, SMU highlighted its function as the national metrology institute in the Slovak Republic, outlining its legal obligations under the Metrology Act and underscoring the importance of legal verification and calibration of measuring instruments. The Deputy Director General of SMU presented selected national measurement standards maintained by the institute and explained how its metrology units contribute to ensuring the reliability and traceability of measurements across various industrial and scientific fields.

You can watch the Spektrum 24 episode in the JOJ 24 archive:
https://joj24.noviny.sk/spektrum-24/1079271-spektrum-24-o-narodnych-etalonoch-radone-aj-ionizujucom-ziareni