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Miklyaev PS, Petrova TB, Maksimovich NG, Krasikov AV, Klimshin AV, Shchitov DV, Sidyakin PA, Tsebro DN, Meshcheriakova OY. Comparative studies on radon seasonal variations in various undeground environments: Cases of abandoned Beshtaugorskiy uranium mine and Kungur Ice Cave. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2024; 272:107346. [PMID: 38043218 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2023.107346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
It is well known that one of the most important risk factors in underground environment is the harmful effects of radon. The reasons for strong seasonal fluctuations in radon content in underground environments remain not fully understood. The purpose of this article is to improve existing ideas about this phenomenon. The article presents the results of a study of radon transport in two different underground spaces - the Beshtaugorskiy uranium mine (North Caucasus) and the Kungur Ice Cave (Middle Ural). We have used the direct measurements of the equilibrium equivalent concentration (EEC) of radon progeny in air, as well as the air flow velocity. A very wide range and strong seasonal variations in the radon levels have been recorded in both cases. The EEC has a range of 11-6653 by Bq m-3 and 10-89,020 Bq m-3 in the Kungur cave and the Beshtaugorskiy mine, respectively. It has been established that seasonal fluctuations in radon levels both in the mine and in the cave are caused by the same process - convective air circulation in the underground space due to the temperature difference between the mountain massif and the atmosphere (so called chimney effect). Overall, these results indicate that due to convective air circulation, underground spaces are periodically intensively ventilated with atmospheric air, and then, on the contrary, they are filled with radon-enriched air that seeps into caves or adits from rocks and ores. In both cases, the EEC of radon progeny exceeds the permissible level for the population and workers. The results of this study highlight the need for the development of measures to limit the presence of people in the surveyed underground spaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petr S Miklyaev
- Sergeev Institute of Environmental Geoscience Russian Academy of Sciences (IEG RAS), 13/2 Ulansky Str., 101000, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Tatiana B Petrova
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Radiochemistry, 1/3 Leninskie Gory, GSP-1, 119991, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Alexey V Krasikov
- Mining Institute of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 78a Sibirskaya Str., 614007, Perm, Russia
| | | | - Dmitriy V Shchitov
- North Caucasus Federal University, Pyatigorsk Branch, Engineering Faculty, Department of Construction, 46a Ermolov Str., 357500, Pyatigorsk, Russia
| | - Pavel A Sidyakin
- North Caucasus Federal University, Pyatigorsk Branch, Engineering Faculty, Department of Construction, 46a Ermolov Str., 357500, Pyatigorsk, Russia
| | - Dmitriy N Tsebro
- North Caucasus Federal University, Pyatigorsk Branch, Engineering Faculty, Department of Construction, 46a Ermolov Str., 357500, Pyatigorsk, Russia
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Miklyaev PS, Petrova TB, Shchitov DV, Sidyakin PA, Murzabekov MA, Tsebro DN, Marennyy AM, Nefedov NA, Gavriliev SG. Radon transport in permeable geological environments. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 852:158382. [PMID: 36049692 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Revised: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
This article presents the results of a long-term soil radon and meteorological parameter monitoring study in the fault zone at Mt. Beshtau, North Caucasus, which for more than 3 years. Strong seasonal variations in the radon levels with maxima during summer and minima during winter were recorded. The values of radon exhalation and soil radon concentration have a range of 0.025-25 Bq m 2 s -1 and 1-170 kBq m -3, respectively. In addition, measurements of the air radon concentration, and direction of air movement at the adits mouths of the former uranium mine on the same mountain were carried out. Seasonal radon variations, similar to those observed in fault zones, were recorded at the mouths of adits. It was established that radon anomalies are associated with the periodic release of mine air from the fractures and tunnels into the atmosphere. Above an altitude of 900 m a. s. l., an abnormal release of radon occurs in winter, when the mine air is warmer than the surrounding atmosphere. At the altitudes below 900 m the cold radon rich air blows from the adit mouths in summer. During mine air discharge, radon concentrations in the open atmosphere locally around the adit mouth reach 600,000 Bq m-3, averaging 50,000-250,000 Bq m-3. The temporal pattern of radon fluctuations in fault zones and at the adit mouths is similar. A very close correlation between radon levels and atmospheric air temperature was observed both in the fault zone and at the adits mouths. It indicates that radon release in both cases are caused by a single mechanism. This mechanism probably is the atmospheric air circulation in shallow permeable zones due to the temperature difference between the inside mountain and ambient atmosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petr S Miklyaev
- Sergeev Institute of Environmental Geoscience Russian Academy of Sciences (IEG RAS), Ulansky per. 13 build. 2, 101000 Moscow, Russia.
| | - Tatiana B Petrova
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Radiochemistry, Leninskie Gory 1 build. 3, GSP-1, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Dmitriy V Shchitov
- North Caucasus Federal University, Pyatigorsk Branch, Engineering Faculty, Department of Construction, Ermolov str., 46a, 357500 Pyatigorsk, Russia
| | - Pavel A Sidyakin
- North Caucasus Federal University, Pyatigorsk Branch, Engineering Faculty, Department of Construction, Ermolov str., 46a, 357500 Pyatigorsk, Russia
| | - Murat A Murzabekov
- North Caucasus Federal University, Pyatigorsk Branch, Engineering Faculty, Department of Construction, Ermolov str., 46a, 357500 Pyatigorsk, Russia
| | - Dmitriy N Tsebro
- North Caucasus Federal University, Pyatigorsk Branch, Engineering Faculty, Department of Construction, Ermolov str., 46a, 357500 Pyatigorsk, Russia
| | - Albert M Marennyy
- Research and Technical Center of Radiation-Chemical Safety and Hygiene, Shchukinskaya ul. 40, 123182 Moscow, Russia
| | - Nikolay A Nefedov
- Research and Technical Center of Radiation-Chemical Safety and Hygiene, Shchukinskaya ul. 40, 123182 Moscow, Russia
| | - Sakhayaan G Gavriliev
- Sergeev Institute of Environmental Geoscience Russian Academy of Sciences (IEG RAS), Ulansky per. 13 build. 2, 101000 Moscow, Russia; Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Radiochemistry, Leninskie Gory 1 build. 3, GSP-1, 119991 Moscow, Russia
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D’Avino V, Ambrosino F, Bedogni R, Campoy AIC, La Verde G, Vernetto S, Vigorito CF, Pugliese M. Characterization of Thermoluminescent Dosimeters for Neutron Dosimetry at High Altitudes. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 22:5721. [PMID: 35957277 PMCID: PMC9370843 DOI: 10.3390/s22155721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Neutrons constitute a significant component of the secondary cosmic rays and are one of the most important contributors to natural cosmic ray radiation background dose. The study of the cosmic ray neutrons' contribution to the dose equivalent received by humans is an interesting and challenging task for the scientific community. In addition, international regulations demand assessing the biological risk due to radiation exposure for both workers and the general population. Because the dose rate due to cosmic radiation increases significantly with altitude, the objective of this work was to characterize the thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLDs) from the perspective of exposing them at high altitudes for longtime neutron dose monitoring. The pair of TLD-700 and TLD-600 is amply used to obtain the information on gamma and neutron dose in mixed neutron-gamma fields due to the present difference in 6Li isotope concentration. A thermoluminescence dosimeter system based on pair of TLD-600/700 was characterized to enable it for neutron dosimetry in the thermal energy range. The system was calibrated in terms of neutron ambient dose equivalent in an experimental setup using a 241Am-B radionuclide neutron source coated by a moderator material, polyethylene, creating a thermalized neutron field. Afterward, the pair of TLD-600/700 was exposed at the CERN-EU High-Energy Reference Field (CERF) facility in Geneva, which delivers a neutron field with a spectrum similar to that of secondary cosmic rays. The dosimetric system provided a dose value comparable with the calculated one demonstrating a good performance for neutron dosimetry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vittoria D’Avino
- Section of Naples, National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), Via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, Italy; (V.D.); (G.L.V.)
- Department of Physics “Ettore Pancini”, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Ambrosino
- Section of Naples, National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), Via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, Italy; (V.D.); (G.L.V.)
- Department of Physics “Ettore Pancini”, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Roberto Bedogni
- Frascati National Laboratories, National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Via Enrico Fermi 54, 00044 Frascati, Italy; (R.B.); (A.I.C.C.)
| | - Abner Ivan C. Campoy
- Frascati National Laboratories, National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Via Enrico Fermi 54, 00044 Frascati, Italy; (R.B.); (A.I.C.C.)
| | - Giuseppe La Verde
- Section of Naples, National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), Via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, Italy; (V.D.); (G.L.V.)
- Department of Physics “Ettore Pancini”, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Silvia Vernetto
- National Institute for Astrophysics—Astrophysical Observatory of Turin (INAF-OATO), Via Pietro Giuria 1, 10125 Torino, Italy;
- Section of Turin, National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), Via Pietro Giuria 1, 10125 Torino, Italy;
| | - Carlo Francesco Vigorito
- Section of Turin, National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), Via Pietro Giuria 1, 10125 Torino, Italy;
- Department of Physics, University of Turin, Via P. Giuria 1, 10125 Turin, Italy
| | - Mariagabriella Pugliese
- Section of Naples, National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), Via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, Italy; (V.D.); (G.L.V.)
- Department of Physics “Ettore Pancini”, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, Italy
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Radiological Hazards Assessment of Stream sediments at Wadi Diit and Wadi Sermatai area, Southern Eastern Desert, Egypt. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-022-08247-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Ahmed IK, Khalaf HNB, Ambrosino F, Mostafa MYA. Fly ash radiological characterization from thermal power plants in Iraq. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-021-07907-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Hanfi MY, Masoud MS, Ambrosino F, Mostafa MY. Natural radiological characterization at the Gabal El Seila region (Egypt). Appl Radiat Isot 2021; 173:109705. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2021.109705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Fijałkowska-Lichwa L, Przylibski TA. Assessment of occupational exposure from radon in the newly formed underground tourist route under Książ castle, Poland. RADIATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL BIOPHYSICS 2021; 60:329-345. [PMID: 33742235 PMCID: PMC8116260 DOI: 10.1007/s00411-021-00903-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
In the present study, 222Rn activity concentrations in a newly formed underground tourist route under Książ castle, Poland, were investigated for periods undisturbed and disturbed by construction works. This preliminary assessment is based on the almost 3-year long continuous measurements (28 Oct. 2016-02 Jul. 2019) done with an SRDN-3 instrument. In detail described are radon concentrations for periods of renovation (11 Aug. 2018-10 Oct. 2018), opening (15 Oct. 2018-10 Apr. 2019) and operation and monitoring (11 Apr. 2019-02 Jul. 2019) of the facility. It was observed that after the termination of construction work, when natural ventilation returned to the state preceding this work, the absolute values of radon activity concentration decreased. The mean annual radon concentrations were higher than the reference level of radon concentration in underground spaces recommended by IAEA, ICRP, and by the EU Council Directive for workplaces. They reached 1179 Bq/m3 and 943 Bq/m3 in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Cyclically recurring daily changes in radon concentrations occurred only in April and October (so-called transitional periods) and only outside the period of construction work. The results confirmed; however, that these changes need not be considered when planning the work in the tunnel. The minimum effective dose rate from radon exposure occurs in colder periods of the year, from November to the end of March, where the mean effective dose rate value was found to be 0.0003 mSv/h. In contrast, the maximum dose rate of 0.014 mSv/h was observed from April to August.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidia Fijałkowska-Lichwa
- Faculty of Civil Engineering, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże S. Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Tadeusz A. Przylibski
- Faculty of Geoengineering, Mining and Geology, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże S. Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
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