Estimation of the Radon Risk Under Different European Climates and Soil Textures

Progress in biological and medical research in the deep underground: an update

As the growing population of individuals residing or working in deep underground spaces for prolonged periods, it has become imperative to understand the influence of factors in the deep underground environment (DUGE) on living systems. Heping Xie has conceptualized the concept of deep underground medicine to identify factors in the DUGE that can have either detrimental or beneficial effects on human health. Over the past few years, an increasing number of studies have explored the molecular mechanisms that underlie the biological impacts of factors in the DUGE on model organisms and humans. Here, we present a summary of the present landscape of biological and medical research conducted in deep underground laboratories and propose promising avenues for future investigations in this field. Most research demonstrates that low background radiation can trigger a stress response and affect the growth, organelles, oxidative stress, defense capacity, and metabolism of cells. Studies show that residing and/or working in the DUGE has detrimental effects on human health. Employees working in deep mines suffer from intense discomfort caused by high temperature and humidity, which increase with depth, and experience fatigue and sleep disturbance. The negative impacts of the DUGE on human health may be induced by changes in the metabolism of specific amino acids; however, the cellular pathways remain to be elucidated. Biological and medical research must continue in deep underground laboratories and mines to guarantee the safe probing of uncharted depths as humans utilize the deep underground space.

Study on the pore structure and radon release characteristics of coal in northern China

Identifying the release characteristics of radon (Rn-222) in coal mines is critical preventing cancer risks for coal miners and coal fires. The present investigates the pore structure characteristics of coal samples from eleven coal mines in northern China, using low-temperature nitrogen adsorption (LTNA) test, combined with the radon exhalation rate in coal. The findings of the study reveal that the N₂ adsorption isotherms of all the coal samples fall under the inverse S type, with micropores dominating in low-rank coals and mesopores dominating in the medium and high-rank coals, due to the separation of organic matter and quartz by shrinkage of micro-components and the orderly arrangement of aromatic rings as a result of ring condensation and thermal cleavage. The pore diameters of coal samples show similar distribution characteristics for sizes >2 nm, represented by a single peak near the pore diameter of 3 nm. Ash yield controls the mesopore and micropore volumes of medium and high-rank coal samples. The radon emission rate displays positive linear correlation (r² = 0.87) with micropore volumes of analyzed coal samples due to the infillings of free radon in micropores. The radon element is derived by uranium decay, which causes a greater radon exhalation rate of coal mines in areas near the uranium mines. The results of the present study could be helpful to understand the influence mechanism of radon emission processes in coal, which provides an important basis for reducing cancer risks for coal miners and predicting coal fires.