STUDY OF 222RN CONTINUOUS MONITORING TIME SERIES AND DOSE ASSESSMENT IN SIX EUROPEAN CAVES.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Radiological Protection
• Geology

Background:

• Caves exhibit elevated radon activity concentrations (approximately kBq/m3) due to limited natural ventilation.
• Underground rock and sediments are primary sources of radon gas.
• Radon levels in caves display seasonal variations influenced by external environmental factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess effective doses from long-term radon monitoring in six European caves.
• To identify environmental factors influencing radon activity concentration.
• To estimate the human health impact of radon inhalation in cave environments.

Main Methods:

• Continuous radon monitoring over extended periods in Slovenian, Slovak, and Czech caves.
• Utilizing International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) Publication 137 methodology for dose estimation.
• Analyzing environmental factors, particularly outside temperature, for their impact on radon levels.

Main Results:

• Radon activity concentrations varied seasonally, with outside temperature identified as the primary influencing factor.
• Annual effective doses were calculated, considering typical working hours underground.
• Estimated annual effective doses could reach several tens of millisieverts (mSv).

Conclusions:

• Long-term radon monitoring is crucial for understanding exposure risks in cave environments.
• Environmental factors, especially temperature, significantly impact radon levels and associated health risks.
• Cave workers may face substantial radiation exposure, necessitating appropriate radiation protection measures.