The Determination of Radon/Thoron Exhalation Rate in an Underground Coal Mine—Preliminary Results

Michał Bonczyk, Stanisław Chałupnik, Malgorzata Wysocka, Agata Grygier, Robert Hildebrandt and Zornitza Tosheva
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Michał Bonczyk: Główny Instytut Górnictwa, Plac Gwarków 1, 40-166 Katowice, Poland
Stanisław Chałupnik: Główny Instytut Górnictwa, Plac Gwarków 1, 40-166 Katowice, Poland
Malgorzata Wysocka: Główny Instytut Górnictwa, Plac Gwarków 1, 40-166 Katowice, Poland
Agata Grygier: Główny Instytut Górnictwa, Plac Gwarków 1, 40-166 Katowice, Poland
Robert Hildebrandt: Główny Instytut Górnictwa, Plac Gwarków 1, 40-166 Katowice, Poland
Zornitza Tosheva: Department of Physics, University of Luxemburg, 2 Av. de l’Universite, 4365 Esch-sur-Alzette, L-5610 Luxembourg, Luxembourg

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 10, 1-11

Abstract: The objective of this work was to perform a series of measurements of radon and thoron exhalation in the underground workings of an experimental coal mine. In the years 2012–2015, experiments on underground coal gasification were carried out in a coal mine, which caused, among other effects, damage to rock mass. Afterward, periodic increases in the concentration of potential alpha energy (PAEC) of radon decay products in the air were found, which could pose a hazard to miners. The question posed was whether the gasification experiment resulted in the increased migration of radon and thoron. If so, did it increase the radiation hazard to miners? The adaptation of the existing instrumentation to the specific conditions was conducted, and a series of measurements were made. It was found that the measured values of radon and thoron exhalation rates ranged from 3.0 up to 38 Bq·m −2 ·h −1 for radon and from 500 up to 2000 Bq·m −2 ·h −1 for thoron.

Keywords: radon; thoron; exhalation; underground coal mine (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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