First radon measurements and occupational exposure assessments in underground geodynamic laboratory the Polish Academy of Sciences Space Research Centre in Książ Castle (SW Poland).
The article presents the results of the first radon activity concentration measurements conducted continuously between 17thMay 2014 and 16thMay 2015 in the underground geodynamic laboratory of the Polish Academy of Sciences Space Research Centre in Książ. The data were registered with the use of three Polish semiconductor SRDN-3 detectors located the closest (SRDN-3 No. 6) to and the furthest (SRDN-3 No. 3) from the facility entrance, and in the fault zone (SRDN-3 No. 4). The study was conducted to characterize the radon behaviour and check it possibility to use with reference to long- and short-term variations of radon activity concentration observed in sedimentary rocks strongly fractured and intersected by systems of multiple faults, for integrated comparative assessments of changes in local orogen kinetics. The values of radon activity concentration in the underground geodynamic laboratory of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN) Space Research Centre in Książ undergo changes of a distinctly seasonal character. The highest values of radon activity concentration are recorded from late spring (May/June) to early autumn (October), and the lowest - from November to April. Radon activity concentrations varied depending on the location of measurement points. Between late spring and autumn they ranged from 800 Bq·m-3to 1200 Bq·m-3, and even 3200 Bq·m-3in the fault zone. Between November and April, values of radon activity concentration are lower, ranging from 500 Bq·m-3to 1000 Bq·m-3and 2700 Bq·m-3in the fault zone. The values of radon activity concentration recorded in the studied facility did not undergo short-term changes in either the whole annual measuring cycle or any of its months. Effective doses received by people staying in the underground laboratory range from 0.001 mSv/h to 0.012 mSv/h. The mean annual effective dose, depending on the measurement site, equals 1 or is slightly higher than 10 mSv/year, while the maximum dose exceeds 20 mSv/year. The estimated annual effective doses are comparable to the standard value of 20 mSv/year defined by Polish law for people employed in the conditions of radiation exposure. They are also in the range of annual effective dose value (8 mSv/year) recommended in workplaces by International Commission on Radiation Protection.
Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Division of Geotechnics, Hydrotechnics, Underground Construction and Hydrological Engineering, Wybrzeże S. Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland. Electronic address: Lidia.Fijalkowska-Lichwa@pwr.edu.pl.
Lidia
L
Fijałkowska-Lichwa
Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Geoengineering, Mining and Geology, Wybrzeże S. Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland. Electronic address: Tadeusz.Przylibski@pwr.edu.pl.
Tadeusz A
TA
Przylibski
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011044:Poland; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D000069079:Radiation Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011886:Radon
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive; D011886:Radon
Effective dose; Radon; Radon activity concentration; Radon activity concentration changes; Radon exposure; Underground laboratory