Radon measurements and dose estimate of workers in a manganese ore mine.
In the new European Basic Safety Standard (EU-BSS), a new reference level for indoor radon concentration in workplaces has recommended that the annual average activity concentration of indoor radon shall not be higher than 300Bqm-3. This paper describes the radon concentration level in an underground workplace (manganese ore mine) over long time intervals (4 years). Several common radon monitors devices - including NRPB and Raduet (as a passive method based on CR-39), AlphaGUARD PQ 2000Pro, SARAD EQF3220, TESLA and Pylon WLX (as active methods) - were used for continuous radon measurements. The output results were used, first, to comprised the result of each device, based on conditions present in underground mines; Second, to have comprehensive measurements about all factors that cause workers exposure to radiation (each monitoring device specified for a unique measurement). The results indicate that the mine's staff had successful efforts to reach the strict requirement of the new EU-BSS, and the average annual radon activity concentrations during the working hours were below 300Bqm-3in the investigated period. The paper presents the effective dose calculations; applying different equilibrium factors suggested by the literature and calculated basing on our measurements at the site, concluding that the differences could be about threefold.
Institute of Radiochemistry and Radioecology, University of Pannonia, 10 Egyetem str., H-8200 Veszprém, Hungary.
Amin
A
Shahrokhi
Manganese Mine Ltd. Úrkút, Hungary; Social Organization for Radioecological Cleanliness, Hungary.
Tamás
T
Vigh
Institute of Physics and Mechatronics, University of Pannonia, POB 158, 8201 Veszprém, Hungary.
Csaba
C
Németh
Institute of Radiochemistry and Radioecology, University of Pannonia, 10 Egyetem str., H-8200 Veszprém, Hungary.
Anita
A
Csordás
Institute of Radiochemistry and Radioecology, University of Pannonia, 10 Egyetem str., H-8200 Veszprém, Hungary; Social Organization for Radioecological Cleanliness, Hungary. Electronic address: kt@almos.uni-pannon.hu.
Tibor
T
Kovács
D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D008345:Manganese; D008452:Maximum Allowable Concentration; D008906:Mining; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D000069079:Radiation Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D011886:Radon / Q000032:analysis*
D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive; D008345:Manganese; D011886:Radon
Active radon detector; EU-BSS; Effective dose; Manganese mine; Passive radon detectors; Radon; Radon progeny