Influence of Dose Conversions, Equilibrium Factors, and Unattached Fractions on Radon Risk Assessment in Operating and Show Underground Mines

Krystian Skubacz (), Katarzyna Wołoszczuk, Agata Grygier and Krzysztof Samolej
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Krystian Skubacz: Central Mining Institute, Silesian Centre for Environmental Radioactivity, Plac Gwarków 1, 40-166 Katowice, Poland
Katarzyna Wołoszczuk: Central Laboratory for Radiological Protection, ul. Konwaliowa 7, 03-194 Warszawa, Poland
Agata Grygier: Central Mining Institute, Silesian Centre for Environmental Radioactivity, Plac Gwarków 1, 40-166 Katowice, Poland
Krzysztof Samolej: Central Mining Institute, Silesian Centre for Environmental Radioactivity, Plac Gwarków 1, 40-166 Katowice, Poland

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 8, 1-18

Abstract: This paper compares the results of measurements taken in the underground workings of active and tourist mines. In these facilities, the aerosol size distributions of ambient aerosols at key workplaces and the distributions of radioactive aerosols containing radon decay products were determined. Based on these studies, dose conversions used for dose assessment and unattached fractions were determined. In addition, radon activity concentrations and potential alpha energy concentrations of short-lived progeny were also measured in the mines to determine the equilibrium factor. The dose conversions varied between 2–7 mSv/(mJ × h × m −3 ). The unattached fraction measured in active coal mines ranged from 0.01–0.23, in tourist mines from 0.09–0.44, and in the tourist cave it was 0.43. The results showed significant discrepancies between the effective doses determined from current recommendations and legal regulations and those determined from direct measurements of parameters affecting exposure.

Keywords: radon hazards; underground active and show mines; cave; evaluation of dose conversion; unattached fraction; equilibrium factors; assessment of effective dose (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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