Radiation Detection Instruments

Radioactive materials can come in solid, liquid, or gas forms. In many cases, radioactive materials can be colorless, odorless, and unable to detect with the naked eye or by touch. In essence, while it is important to know if a site has radiation before entering it, this is impossible to know without proper instruments.

There are many instruments to detect radiation. The four main types for identifying radioactive materials and ionizing radiation are as follows:

• Personal radiation detector (PRD)
  • Used to detect a radiation source but does not indicate the type of radiation

• Handheld survey meter
  • More sensitive than a PRD

• Radiation isotope identification device (RIID)
  • Identifies the specific radioactive material that is emitting the radiation

• Radiation portal monitor (RPM)
  • A monitor through which large items pass (such as boxes, people, vehicles, or even trains)

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