{"id":135,"date":"2018-01-23T13:01:07","date_gmt":"2018-01-23T13:01:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/?p=135"},"modified":"2026-09-22T12:14:24","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T12:14:24","slug":"how-can-i-reduce-the-number-of-false-alarms-from-my-radiation-detector","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/how-can-i-reduce-the-number-of-false-alarms-from-my-radiation-detector\/","title":{"rendered":"How Can I Reduce the Number of False Alarms from my Radiation Detector?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"radiationPersonal Radiation Detectors<\/a> (PRDs) \u2212 which are smaller, more sensitive, easier-to-use, more portable, and more powerful than typical Geiger counters \u2212 help detect, locate, and identify radioactive nuclides such as nuclear weapons, dirty bombs, and orphaned or purposely masked sources.\u00a0 Radiation detection devices<\/a> provide comprehensive, real-time monitoring, early warning, and complete information in the palm of your hand, in the workplace, and in your neighborhood. However, there is natural radiation all around you, your workplace, and your neighborhood. So how do these devices know when to trigger a warning?<\/p>\n

The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission<\/a> reports that the \u201csun and stars send a constant stream of cosmic radiation to Earth, much like a steady drizzle of rain.\u201d In addition:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Earth itself is a source of terrestrial radiation. Radioactive materials (including uranium, thorium, and radium) exist naturally in soil and rock. Essentially all air contains radon, which is responsible for most of the dose that Americans receive each year from natural background sources. In addition, water contains small amounts of dissolved uranium and thorium, and all organic matter (both plant and animal) contains radioactive carbon and potassium. Some of these materials are ingested with food and water, while others (such as radon) are inhaled. The dose from terrestrial sources varies in different parts of the world, but locations with higher soil concentrations of uranium and thorium generally have higher doses.\u201d<\/p>\n

We refer to this as background radiation and the varying levels of it can cause false alarms when trying to determine if the high radiation levels you may be detecting on your radiation measurement and detection device have identified a potential threat.<\/p>\n

So how can you tell if the radiation detection device <\/a>\u00a0is warning you about natural radiation or artificial radiation? \u00a0Make sure your detector is utilizing Natural Background Rejection (NBR) technology. NBR is a technology used to eliminate fluctuating natural background levels while measuring radiation. \u00a0Naturally occurring radiation has a distinct \u201csignature\u201d that artificial or man-made radiation does not.\u00a0 NBR leverages this signature to quickly differentiate between natural and artificial radiation by stripping away any natural background radiation that is registering during a scan, delivering you a more accurate result of artificial radiation levels.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, operators using instruments without NBR often set their alarm thresholds higher to eliminate the nuisances caused by natural radiation, false alarms or they ignore alarms due to their frequency, potentially missing out on hidden or shielded sources. Using an instrument with NBR allows you to keep your alarm threshold extremely low without the need to worry about false alarms from non-threatening sources \u2212 so when the alarm goes off, you know it is time to take action.<\/p>\n

Getting a bunch of false alarms can be annoying, but ignoring a real alarm could be a catastrophe. By delivering a more accurate result, first responders and those responsible for identifying potential threats will be more confident and efficient in knowing when the threat is real.\u00a0 You can read more details about NBR on this Application Technology Support document.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Personal Radiation Detectors (PRDs) \u2212 which are smaller, more sensitive, easier-to-use, more portable, and more powerful than typical Geiger counters \u2212 help detect, locate, and identify radioactive nuclides such as nuclear weapons, dirty bombs, and orphaned or purposely masked sources.\u00a0 Radiation detection devices provide comprehensive, real-time monitoring, early warning, and complete information in the palm<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":499,"featured_media":217,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[163,3],"tags":[167,185,335],"division":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-135","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-radiation","8":"category-public-safety","9":"tag-law-enforcement","10":"tag-radiation","11":"tag-radiation-detection","12":"entry"},"_selected_authors":[1507],"_selected_reviewers":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow 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When radioactive materials enter the recycling stream, they can impact soil, air, water, and even the food supply. Recent incidents, including Caesium-137 contamination detected in Indonesia, underscore the urgent need for stringent monitoring and advanced radiation detection systems. Scrap\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nuclear & Radiation"","block_context":{"text":"Nuclear & Radiation","link":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/radiation\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Scrap metal heap. Discarded material sorted and prepared for recycling.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/03\/iStock-2213952530.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/03\/iStock-2213952530.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/03\/iStock-2213952530.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/03\/iStock-2213952530.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/03\/iStock-2213952530.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/03\/iStock-2213952530.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2676,"url":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/evolving-approaches-to-cbrne-and-radiation-threat-preparedness\/","url_meta":{"origin":135,"position":1},"title":"Evolving Approaches to CBRNE and Radiation Threat Preparedness\u00a0","author":"Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane","date":"November 18, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"A Persistent and Expanding Challenge\u00a0 Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and high yield Explosives (CBRNE) hazards are no longer confined to rare or extreme scenarios\u2014they represent persistent risks in both domestic and international theaters. Chemical agents and toxic industrial chemicals pose danger in urban conflict zones and critical infrastructure. Radiological and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nuclear & Radiation"","block_context":{"text":"Nuclear & Radiation","link":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/radiation\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Abstract digital concept atomic futuristic virtual graphic touch user interface with radioactive danger sign in circle and place for text","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/11\/iStock-677412062_radiation.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/11\/iStock-677412062_radiation.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/11\/iStock-677412062_radiation.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/11\/iStock-677412062_radiation.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/11\/iStock-677412062_radiation.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/11\/iStock-677412062_radiation.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2910,"url":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/national-police-week-advancing-officer-safety-through-rapid-threat-identification\/","url_meta":{"origin":135,"position":2},"title":"National Police Week: Advancing Officer Safety Through Rapid Threat Identification","author":"Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane","date":"May 13, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Introduction Every year, National Police Week recognizes the service, sacrifice, and commitment of law enforcement professionals who protect communities under increasingly complex and dangerous conditions. The week serves as both a remembrance for fallen officers and an acknowledgment of the evolving risks faced by modern policing. This year, National Police\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Drug Enforcement & Narcotics"","block_context":{"text":"Drug Enforcement & Narcotics","link":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/illegal-drugs-and-narcotics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"National Police Week poster, card.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/05\/iStock-2209519653.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/05\/iStock-2209519653.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/05\/iStock-2209519653.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/05\/iStock-2209519653.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/05\/iStock-2209519653.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/05\/iStock-2209519653.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2928,"url":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/dhs-makes-648-million-available-for-firefighters-and-first-responders-make-sure-to-apply-before-the-deadline\/","url_meta":{"origin":135,"position":3},"title":"DHS Makes $648 Million Available for Firefighters and First Responders; Make Sure to Apply Before the Deadline","author":"Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane","date":"May 20, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Article Summary Communities across the United States rely on firefighters and emergency response teams to protect lives, property, and critical infrastructure. To strengthen local emergency preparedness, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and FEMA announced $648 million in new funding opportunities designed to support fire departments and first responder organizations\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT)"","block_context":{"text":"Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT)","link":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/hazardous-materials-hazmat\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Fire department truck in emergency in New York streets.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/05\/iStock-482707146.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/05\/iStock-482707146.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/05\/iStock-482707146.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/05\/iStock-482707146.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/05\/iStock-482707146.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/05\/iStock-482707146.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2685,"url":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/continuous-monitoring-of-vinyl-chloride-and-ethylene-dichloride-in-the-air\/","url_meta":{"origin":135,"position":4},"title":"Continuous Monitoring of Vinyl Chloride and Ethylene Dichloride in the Air","author":"Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane","date":"November 25, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Vinyl chloride (VCM) and ethylene dichloride (EDC) are critical industrial chemicals, primarily used in the production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Due to their carcinogenic properties and stringent regulatory exposure limits, continuous monitoring using mass spectrometry is essential to help ensure workplace safety and compliance. This technology provides real-time detection and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Environmental Safety"","block_context":{"text":"Environmental Safety","link":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/environmental-safety\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"exhaust fans in petrochemical plants","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/11\/iStock-2215813876_petrochemicalair.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/11\/iStock-2215813876_petrochemicalair.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/11\/iStock-2215813876_petrochemicalair.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/11\/iStock-2215813876_petrochemicalair.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/11\/iStock-2215813876_petrochemicalair.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/11\/iStock-2215813876_petrochemicalair.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2018\/01\/crossoutradiation.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/135","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/499"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=135"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/135\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3055,"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/135\/revisions\/3055"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/217"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=135"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=135"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=135"},{"taxonomy":"division","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/division?post=135"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}