Radon survey in caves from Mallorca Island, Spain.
This study reports radon concentration in the most representative caves of Mallorca, identifying those in which the recommended action level is exceeded, thus posing health risks. Two show caves (Campanet and Artà) and three non-touristic caves (Font, Drac, Vallgornera) were investigated. Data were collected at several locations within each cave for three different periods, from March 2013 to March 2014. Except for Vallgornera, where only one monitoring period was possible, and Artà in which low values were recorded throughout the year, a clear seasonal variability, with higher values during the warm seasons and lower during winter time is prominent. Radon concentrations differed markedly from one cave to another, as well as within the same cave, ranging from below detection limit up to 3060 Bq·m(-3). The results of this study have significant practical implications, making it possible to provide some recommendation to cave administrators and other agencies involved in granting access to the investigated caves.
Department of Geology, Babeș-Bolyai University, Kogălniceanu 1, 400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; School of Geosciences, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., NES 107 Tampa, USA.
Oana A
OA
Dumitru
School of Geosciences, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., NES 107 Tampa, USA.
Bogdan P
BP
Onac
Departament de Ciències de la Terra, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Crta. Valldemossa km 7.5, 07122 Palma (Mallorca), Spain.
Joan J
JJ
Fornós
Environmental Radioactivity and Nuclear Dating Center, Babeș-Bolyai University, Fântânele 30, 400294 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Constantin
C
Cosma
Departament de Ciències de la Terra, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Crta. Valldemossa km 7.5, 07122 Palma (Mallorca), Spain.
Angel
A
Ginés
Departament de Ciències de la Terra, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Crta. Valldemossa km 7.5, 07122 Palma (Mallorca), Spain.
Joaquín
J
Ginés
Grup Espeleològic de Llubí, Federació Balear d'Espeleologia, c/Uruguai s/n, Palma Arena, 07010 Palma, Illes Balears, Spain.
Antoni
A
Merino
D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D059552:Caves; D062312:Islands; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011886:Radon / Q000032:analysis*; D013030:Spain
D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive; D011886:Radon
Cave; Exposure; Health hazard; Mallorca; Radon concentration; Track-etched detector