ENHANCED NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY IN POLISH HARD COAL MINING INDUSTRY (original) (raw)
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The radiation risk due to the exposure to natural radionuclides, especially to short-lived radon progeny, is a component of the radiation hazard, common in the natural environment and working environment. In Polish mining industry the radiation hazard, caused by natural radionuclides is the natural hazard. Radon in air and radium present in underground brines are sources of radiation hazards. Sediments precipitated out from such waters with enhanced radium content may cause the increase of external gamma radiation dose rate as well as internal contamination due to accidental ingestion or inhalation. Investigation of that specific problem has been started in hard coal underground mines in Poland in early 1970's. At the end of 1980's first regulation was issued. Dose limits and requirements of the radiation monitoring have been established, internal regulations for monitoring and mitigation measures were developed on the basis of the Polish standard. The monitoring and prevention against natural radiation is obligatory in all Polish underground mines since 1989. This duty is strictly supervised by local offices of State Mining Authority in cooperation with other governmental agencies.
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The doses of gamma radiation, concentrations of radium isotopes in water and sediments, radon concentration and concentration of alpha potential energy of radon decay products in the copper ore mine and in the mining region in the vicinity of Lubin town in Poland are presented. These data served as a basis for the assessment of radiological hazard to the mine workers and general public. The results of this assessment indicate that radiological hazard in the region does not differ substantially from typical values associated with natural radiation background. The calculated average annual effective dose for copper miners is 1.48 mSv. In general, copper ore mines can be regarded as radiologically safe workplaces.
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Nowadays augmented risk of a lung and larynx cancers as a result of the exposure on radon is not only known fact, but also the most important effect of the influence of the natural radioactivity on the general public. There is no doubt, that quite often miners are more endangered by enhanced radon exposures as other members of the society. Upper Silesia is the region of the extended underground mining industry, mainly of a hard coal, but also the metal ore mining. Measurements of radon concentration in the mines were started in 70'ties and since late 80'ties are obligatory due to Polish mining law. In last few years measurements of radon concentration in dwellings have been performed in Upper Silesia. Due to the literature, radon exhalation from the soil is stated as the most important factor, influencing radon concentration in houses. The Upper Silesia is the region strongly affected by mining, where the influence of this industry on the structure of the upper layers of the...
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In this study, short-term radon (RnDP) and thoron (TnDP) progeny measurements and dose estimation were carried out in winter and summer. Gamma-ray dose rate originating from external sources and 222 Rn and 226 Ra contents of spring-water from a mine were also measured. During working hours RnDP and TnDP concentration values changed between 12.1-175 and 0.14-0.42 Bq m 23 , respectively. The 222 Rn and 226 Ra concentration values in the karst spring-water were ∼6 Bq dm 23 and 16 mBq dm 23 , respectively. The radiation dose resulting from the consumption of karst spring-water was negligible. The doses from the inhalation of TnDP and external gamma radiation were of the same magnitude, ∼0.1 mSv y 21 , which was rather negligible related to the estimated radiation dose of 5 mSv y 21 from RnDP.
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