Radon continuous monitoring in Altamira Cave (northern Spain) to assess user's annual effective dose

Lario, Javier; Sánchez‐Moral, Sergio; Cañaveras, Juan Carlos; Cuezva, Soledad; Soler, V.

doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2004.06.007

Cited by 71 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…To assess the radiological hazards to occupational workers and occasional visitors in such environments, it is important to monitor the radon concentration in underground workplaces and tourist caves. Build-up of radon and elevated radiation exposure levels in caves (especially tourist caves) have been observed by researchers in several areas of China (Chen and Li 1995;Luo et al 1996;Lu 2002) as well as in other countries such as Mexico, United Kingdom, Spain, Ireland, Solvenia, Yugoslavia and the United States (Kobal et al 1986(Kobal et al , 1987Cunningham and LaRock 1991;Eheman et al 1991;Jovanovič et al 1992;Solomon et al 1992;Duffy et al 1996;Jovanovič 1996;Dueñas et al 1999Dueñas et al , 2005Gillmore et al 2000Gillmore et al , 2001Gillmore et al , 2002Sperrin et al 2000;Krewski et al 2005;Lario et al 2005).…”

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confidence: 92%

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An Environmental Risk Assessment of Radon in Lantian Karst Cave of Shaanxi, China

Zhang

2008

Water Air Soil Pollut

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The radiation dose and environmental health risk of radon concentration in the Lantian karst cave of China to guides and visitors were estimated based on the continuous radon concentration monitoring. Distinct seasonal variations were observed in the radon concentration of the air inside the cave. The maximum concentration occurred in the summer, whereas the minimum radon concentration occurred during the winter. The annual average radon concentration in the caves investigated is slightly higher than the upper bound of radon action level for underground space used in China and less than the upper bound of radon action level recommended by the International Commission on Radiation Protection (ICRP) for workplaces. The annual effective dose to tour guides working in two investigated caves varies from 4.1 to 16.5mSv, depending on different equilibrium factors together with different dose conversion factors proposed in the literature. The annual maximum time that a tour guide or other worker can safely be inside the cave is estimated to be 1,250 or 2,246h, depending on whether one bases this on the high or mean radon concentration, with an equilibrium factor of one in both cases. Given the synergistic effects of smoking, tour guides who are smokers should be in the cave only 10-20% of these hours. In all cases, the annual effective doses to visitors are well below the 1mSv maximum suggested dose for a member of the public for 1 year.

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confidence: 92%

“…Their results indicate that radon levels in caves could pose a health risk for workers and visitors (Lario et al 2005). In the Karst areas, radon can migrate over large distances and can cause higher concentrations in caves, chambers and corridors (Ball et al 1991;Przylibski 1999;Lu 2002).…”

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confidence: 99%

An Environmental Risk Assessment of Radon in Lantian Karst Cave of Shaanxi, China

Zhang

2008

Water Air Soil Pollut

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“…with its radioactive daughters, is responsible for about 40−50% of (1 -2.5 mSv/year) which a typical person receives from all natural sources of ionising radiation within a year (Commission 1990;UNSCEAR, 2000;Waligórski, 2010 Przylibski and Fijałkowska-Lichwa, 2010;Gillmore et al, 2001Gillmore et al, , 2002Chibowski and Komosa, 2001;Kullab et al, 2001;Kávási et al, 2003;Papachristodoulou et al, 2004;Perrier et al, 2004a, b;Olszewski et al, 2005;Lario et al, 2005Lario et al, , 2006Gervino et al, 2007;Lu et al, 2009;. Their findings have turned out to be comparable, and the most recent studies only extend the previously known regularities to next underground spaces.…”

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confidence: 99%

Short-term <sup>222</sup>Rn activity concentration changes in underground spaces with limited air exchange with the atmosphere

Fijałkowska-Lichwa¹,

Przylibski²

2011

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. The authors investigated short-time changes in 222 Rn activity concentration occurring yearly in two underground tourist facilities with limited air exchange with the atmosphere. One of them is Niedźwiedzia (Bear) Cave in Kletno, Poland -a natural space equipped with locks ensuring isolation from the atmosphere. The other site is Fluorite Adit in Kletno, a section of a disused uranium mine. This adit is equipped with a mechanical ventilation system, operated periodically outside the opening times (at night). Both sites are situated within the same metamorphic rock complex, at similar altitudes, about 2 km apart.The measurements conducted revealed spring and autumn occurrence of convective air movements. In Bear Cave, this process causes a reduction in 222 Rn activity concentration in the daytime, i.e. when tourists, guides and other staff are present in the cave. From the point of view of radiation protection, this is the best situation. For the rest of the year, daily concentrations of 222 Rn activity in the cave are very stable. In Fluorite Adit, on the other hand, significant variations in daily 222 Rn activity concentrations are recorded almost all year round. These changes are determined by the periods of activity and inactivity of mechanical ventilation. Unfortunately this is inactive in the daytime, which results in the highest values of 222 Rn activity concentration at the times when tourists and staff are present in the adit. Slightly lower concentrations of radon in Fluorite Adit are recorded in the winter season, when convective air movements carry a substantial amount of radon out into the atmosphere.The incorrect usage of mechanical ventilation in Fluorite Adit results in the most unfavourable conditions in terms of radiation protection. The staff working in that facility are exposed practically throughout the year to the highest 222 Rn activity concentrations, both at work (in the adit) and at home Correspondence to: L. Fijałkowska-Lichwa (lidia.fijalkowska@pwr.wroc.pl) (outside their working hours). Therefore, not very well considered solution for the ventilation system not only does not prevent radioactive exposure of the staff, but can even increase it.The authors have also observed comparable characteristics of the annual patterns of 222 Rn activity concentration changes in underground spaces and residential buildings situated in the same or similar climatic zones.

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“…Contudo, em ambientes fechados e de pouca ventilação, as concentrações podem atingir valores elevados. Isto fica evidente em minas e cavernas onde a taxa de ventilação é reduzida devido à configuração das mesmas (Binns et al, 1996, Jovanovi , 1996, Solomon et al, 1996, Sajó-Bohus et al, 1997, Binns et al, 1998, Pinza-Molina et al, 1999, Przylibski, 1999, Sperrin et al, 2000, Gilmore et al, 2001, Gilmore et al, 2002, Papachristodoulou et al, 2004, Veiga et al, 2004, Lario et al, 2005.…”

Section: Radiação Naturalunclassified

“…Estudos realizados em várias partes do mundo têm apresentado concentrações de radônio no interior de cavernas com valores na faixa de 186 Bq.m -3 a 80000 Bq.m -3 (Pinza-Molina et al, 1999, Przylibski, 1999, Sajó-Bohus et al, 1997, Sperrin et al, 2000, Gilmore et al, 2002, Papachristodoulou et al, 2004, Lario et al, 2005 No Brasil, cerca de 4000 cavernas estão cadastradas no banco de dados da Sociedade Brasileira de Espeleologia (SBE), (Auler et al, 2001, SBE, 2005. Estudos realizados em Minas Gerais, Bahia e Mato Grosso apresentaram avaliação preliminar dos níveis de radônio em algumas cavernas, mostrando concentrações elevadas (Gouvea et al, 1996).…”

Section: Motivação E Objetivosunclassified

Avaliação da exposição ao ²²²Rn nas cavernas do Parque Estadual Turístico do Alto Ribeira (PETAR)

Alberigi¹

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Radon continuous monitoring in Altamira Cave (northern Spain) to assess user's annual effective dose

Cited by 71 publications

References 18 publications

An Environmental Risk Assessment of Radon in Lantian Karst Cave of Shaanxi, China

An Environmental Risk Assessment of Radon in Lantian Karst Cave of Shaanxi, China

Short-term <sup>222</sup>Rn activity concentration changes in underground spaces with limited air exchange with the atmosphere

Avaliação da exposição ao ²²²Rn nas cavernas do Parque Estadual Turístico do Alto Ribeira (PETAR)

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Radon continuous monitoring in Altamira Cave (northern Spain) to assess user's annual effective dose

Cited by 71 publications

References 18 publications

An Environmental Risk Assessment of Radon in Lantian Karst Cave of Shaanxi, China

An Environmental Risk Assessment of Radon in Lantian Karst Cave of Shaanxi, China

Short-term &lt;sup&gt;222&lt;/sup&gt;Rn activity concentration changes in underground spaces with limited air exchange with the atmosphere

Avaliação da exposição ao ²²²Rn nas cavernas do Parque Estadual Turístico do Alto Ribeira (PETAR)

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Short-term <sup>222</sup>Rn activity concentration changes in underground spaces with limited air exchange with the atmosphere