Delimiting radiation protection distance of underground uranium mining and metallurgy facilities: A case study in China

Abstract

Delimiting radiation protection distance of uranium mining and metallurgy facilities is an important radiation protection approach to control the effective public dose caused by radon and radon progeny. Ventilation shafts are the main radon release paths of underground uranium mines. It is of great importance to research the diffusion regularities and influence range of the radon around the ventilation shaft. In this study, long-term and short-term radon accumulation monitoring approaches were adapted for onsite investigation. More than 520 sets of radon concentration were acquired. The survey results effectively revealed the distribution regularities of the radon concentration around the ventilation shaft with time, space, and working conditions. These results provide data for radiation protection in uranium mines. In addition, a radiation protection distance delimiting way was proposed for the investigated facility through effective public dose assessment.