Abstract

Radon concentrations in the working sections of the Zonguldak coal mineswere determined and activity concentration measurements of natural 226Ra,232Th and 40K radionuclides were performed with high resolution passive gamma-rayspectrometry for coal samples collected from these sections. The 222Rn concentration was found to be between 15 and78 Bq m−3, well below theaction limit of 1000 Bq m−3 according to ICRP65. The annual effective dose to miners dueto inhalation of radon was determined to be between 60 and312 µSv. Activityconcentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in the coal samples were found to be 13–164, 13–215 and 344–1100 Bq kg−1, respectively. Radium equivalent activity, dose rate in air and averageannual effective dose equivalents were calculated in the range of 66–602 Bq kg−1, 32–265 nGy h−1 and30–244 µSv, respectively. The resultant total annual effective doses can be used to minimise theradiological risk to the coal miners.

Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call