Radiation Dose Assessment to Workers Due to NORM Inhalation in the Korean Phosphate Industry

Radiological risks to workers in the phosphate processing industry have not been adequately addressed in Korea. The objectives of the present study were to measure radioactivity concentration of phosphate materials processed within the Korean phosphate industry and to assess internal radiation dose...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the Korean Physical Society 2018, 73(7), , pp.1007-1011
Main Authors: Ji, Seung Woo, Jang, Jung Hwan, Do, Tae Gwan, Kim, Kwang Pyo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Mathematical and Computational Physics
Particle and Nuclear Physics
Particulates
Phosphates
Physics
Physics and Astronomy
Processing industry
Radiation dosage
Radioactivity
Raw materials
Respiration
Safety management
Theoretical
Thorium
Uranium
Workers
물리학
Citations: Items that this one cites
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Radiological risks to workers in the phosphate processing industry have not been adequately addressed in Korea. The objectives of the present study were to measure radioactivity concentration of phosphate materials processed within the Korean phosphate industry and to assess internal radiation dose to workers as a result of inhalation. The radioactivity concentration in the phosphate rocks ranged from 92 - 1,100 Bq kg −1 for uranium series and 0.7 - 9 Bq kg −1 for thorium series. Annual inhalation dose varied with processing area and raw materials, widely ranging from 3.58 × 10 −4 to 4.81×10 −1 mSv yr −1 . Particulate concentration in the air and radioactivity concentration of the particulates were critical determinants of worker inhalation dose. The study results can be used as basic data for the development of a safety standard and guide and for practical radiation safety management in the phosphate industry.
ISSN:0374-4884
1976-8524
DOI:10.3938/jkps.73.1007