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RADON CONCENTRATION IN THE AREA OF WASTE ROCK DUMPS, BROD, CR-CASE STUDY.
L Thinova1, R Bican2, A Fronka3
1Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Brehova 7, Praha, Czech Republic.
Radiation Protection Dosimetry
|October 6, 2017
Summary
Radiation exposure from Czech uranium mining waste rock dumps is primarily from indoor radon inhalation, not external irradiation. Health impacts are estimated for a representative person in Brod village.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Radiation Protection
- Public Health
Background:
- Czech Republic has ~7000 mining waste facilities, including uranium mine waste rock dumps.
- Assessing health impacts from these dumps is crucial for radiation protection.
- Long-term monitoring of waste rock dumps is essential for environmental safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the health impact of uranium mining waste rock dumps on a representative person.
- To present monitoring results from the Pribram shaft No. 15 waste rock dump.
- To quantify both external and internal irradiation from mining waste.
Main Methods:
- In situ gamma spectrometry and Monte Carlo modeling for external irradiation.
- RAMARN, ALGADE Environmental, and RAMONIS detection systems for internal irradiation.
- Long-term monitoring of waste rock dumps and indoor radon concentration measurements.
Main Results:
- External irradiation from waste rock dumps is negligible (tens of μSv).
- Internal irradiation, primarily from indoor radon inhalation, is more significant.
- Average indoor radon concentration was 450 Bq/m3, with peaks reaching thousands Bq/m3.
Conclusions:
- The total annual effective dose is mainly driven by indoor radon inhalation.
- Radon exhalation rates from waste rock dumps range from 35-40 mBq m-2 s-1.
- Further radiation protection measures may be needed, focusing on indoor radon mitigation.
