title: [Occurrence of radon in the Polish underground tourist routes].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are about 200 underground tourist routes in Poland. There are caves, mines or underground structures. This paper presents the results of the research intended to identify the extent of the occurrence of radon concentrations in underground areas of tourist routes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted the measurement of periodic concentrations of radon (1-2 months) in the summer using type Tastrak trace detectors. We determined the average concentrations of radon in air in 66 underground tourist routes in Poland.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The research results comprise 259 determinations of average radon concentrations in 66 routes. The arithmetic average of the results was 1610 Bqm-3, and the maximum measured concentration was over 20,000 Bqm-3. The minimum concentration was 100 Bqm-3 (threshold method) considering the arithmetic average of the measurements. It was found that in 67% of the routes, the average concentration of radon has exceeded 300 Bqm-3 and in 22 underground routes it exceeded 1000 Bqm-3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radon which occurs in many Polish underground tourist routes may be an organizational, legal and health problem. It is necessary to develop a program of measures to reduce radon concentrations in underground routes, especially routes located in the former mines.
authors.affiliation: Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera / Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Zakład Ochrony Radiologicznej / Department of Radiological Protection). jolsz@imp.lodz.pl.
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olszewski
authors.affiliation: Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera / Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Zakład Ochrony Radiologicznej / Department of Radiological Protection). zmyslmar@imp.lodz.pl.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zmyślony
authors.affiliation: Uniwersytet Łódzki / University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland (Wydział Fizyki i Informatyki Stosowanej, Katedra Fizyki Jądrowej i Bezpieczeństwa Radiacyjnego / Faculty of Physics and Applied Informatics, Department of Nuclear Physics and Radiation Safety).
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wrzesień
authors.affiliation: Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera / Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Zakład Ochrony Radiologicznej / Department of Radiological Protection). kwalczak@imp.lodz.pl.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Walczak
mesh_terms: D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D059552:Caves; D006801:Humans; D011044:Poland; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods; D011886:Radon / Q000032:analysis*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014195:Travel
chemical_list: D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive; D011886:Radon
keywords: Poland; environment; natural radioactivity; radon; radon concentration; underground tourists rout