Occupational exposure of phosphate mine workers: airborne radioactivity measurements and dose assessment.
Under the Egyptian program for radiation safety and control, airborne radioactivity measurements and radiological dose assessment were conducted in some phosphate and uranium mines. Abu-Tartor mine is one of the biggest underground phosphate mines in Egypt. Airborne radioactivity, radon ((222)Rn) and its short-lived decay products (progenies) and thoron ((220)Rn), were measured in selected locations along the mine. The environmental gamma and workers dose equivalent rate (mSv/y) were measured inside and outside the mine using thermo-luminescence dosimeters (TLD). The results were presented and discussed. The calculated annual effective dose due to airborne radioactivity is the main source of occupational exposure and exceeding the maximum recommended level by ICRP-60 inside the mine tunnels. A number of recommendations are suggested to control the occupational exposures.
Khater
Ashraf E
AE
National Center for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Control, Atomic Energy Authority, P.O. Box 7551, Nasr City, Cairo 11762, Egypt. khater_ashraf@yahoo.com
Hussein
M A
MA
Hussein
Mohamed I
MI
D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D004534:Egypt; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D008906:Mining; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011886:Radon / Q000032:analysis*; D012449:Safety
D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive; D011886:Radon