Comparative study of radon sources and associated health risk in four underground uranium mines

This paper presents a comparative study of the quantitative estimation of 222 Rn and its health risk from various sources in four underground uranium mines. 222 Rn exhalation rates from uranium-bearing rocks and backfill materials were estimated by calculating the 222 Rn concentration accumulated in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental monitoring and assessment 2023-03, Vol.195 (3), p.400-400, Article 400
Main Authors: Sahu, Patitapaban, Beg, Imran Athar, Panigrahi, Durga Charan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Air Pollutants, Radioactive - analysis
Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution
Backfill
Cancer
Comparative analysis
Comparative studies
Earth and Environmental Science
Ecology
Ecotoxicology
Environment
Environmental Management
Environmental monitoring
Environmental science
Exhalation
Health risk assessment
Health risks
Lung cancer
Lung diseases
Mine drainage
Mine tailings
Mine waters
Mines
Mining
Monitoring/Environmental Analysis
Porosity
Radiation Monitoring
Radon
Radon - analysis
Radon isotopes
Underground mines
Uranium
Uranium - analysis
Uranium ores
Water
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Summary:This paper presents a comparative study of the quantitative estimation of 222 Rn and its health risk from various sources in four underground uranium mines. 222 Rn exhalation rates from uranium-bearing rocks and backfill materials were estimated by calculating the 222 Rn concentration accumulated in an enclosed chamber into which radon was exhaled. This comparative study indicates a more significant effect of porosity on the exhalation rates. Dissolved 222 Rn in mine water was estimated using scintillation cell and bubbler kit. The discrepancy in 222 Rn concentration in the mines might be attributed to the variation in geological features, ore grade, and porosity. This study revealed that the maximum radon exposure was produced from the backfill mill tailings, followed by uranium ore and mine water in the mines. The radon dose values in the individual mines remained under the safe dose limit of 20 mSv year −1 . The excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) and 222 Rn-induced lung cancer cases (RnLCC) per million persons per year were also estimated.
ISSN:0167-6369
1573-2959
DOI:10.1007/s10661-023-10952-0