Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors Applied to Assess Workers Exposure to Radon in Small Scale Tanzanite Mines in Tanzania
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15392/2319-0612.2025.2829Palabras clave:
radon, underground mines, occupational exposure, SSNTDResumen
The Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors (SSNTD) type CR-39 were used to measure levels of radon gas in the Small Scale Tanzanite Mining blocks B, C and D at Mirerani area, Northern Tanzania. Workers Exposure to Radon was assessed using the concepts of Working Level, Working Level Month and dose conversion factors recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). Results revealed that radon levels ranged from below action level of 300 Bqm-3 recommended by the ICRP to 5.3 times higher. The corresponding mean annual effective doses ranged from 0.8 to 11.8 mSvy-1, 1.4 to 4.4 mSvy-1 and 1.9 to 2.3 mSvy-1 for block B, D and C, respectively. These results indicate that the estimated doses are below the regulatory limit of 20mSvy-1. However, measures to keep the exposures as low as reasonably achievable are recommended as mining advance to deeper layers where the available means of ventilation may not be sufficient to lower radon levels.
Descargas
Referencias
[1] MOHAMMED, N.K., MAZUNGA, M.S. Natural radioactivity in soil and water from likuyu village in the neighborhood of mkuju uranium deposit. International Journal of Anal Chem. 2013; 501856, 2013. Available: https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/501856.
[2] FOCUS, E., RWIZA, M.J., MOHAMMED, N.K., BANZI, F.P. The influence of gold mining on radioactivity of mining sites soil in Tanzania. International Journal of Environmental Quality;46: 46-59, 2021.
[3] MBUYA, A.W., MBUYA, I.B.,MBOYA, I.B., SEMVUA, H.H., MSUYA, S.E., HOWLETT, P.J., MAMUYA, S.H.. Concentrations of respirable crystalline silica and radon am ong tanzanite m ining com m unities in Mererani, Tanzania. Ann Work Expo Health . 8;68(1):48-57, 2024. doi: 10.1093/annweh/wxad062.
[4] DONOGHUE, A. Occupational Health Hazards in mining-An overview. Journal of Occupational Medicine, Volume 54, No. 7, 2004.
[5] HOY, R.F., CHAMBERS, D.C. Silica-related diseases in the modern world. Allergy Eur. J Allergy Clin Immunol.75:2805 – 2817, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1111/all.14202.
[6] ZEEB, H. and SHANNOUN, F., Eds. WHO Handbook on In-Door Radon: A Public Health Perspective. World Health Organization, Geneva. 2009.
[7] UNSCEAR (United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation). Sources and effects of ionizing radiation; report to the General Assembly, with scientific annexes, United Nations, New York, 2000.
[8] CIGNA, A.A. Radon in Caves. International Journal of Speleology. 34 (1-2), 1 – 18, 2005.
[9] MARGINEANU, R.M.(2019). Radon measurements in underground mines and caves from several European countries. AIP Conference Proceedings 2076, 050004 (2019); https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5091643.
[10] TEIRI, H., NAZMARA, S., ABDOLAHNEJAD, A., HAJIZADEH, Y., AMIN , M.M. Indoor radon measurement in buildings of a university campus in central Iran and estimation of its effective dose and health risk assessment. J Environ Health Sci Engineer 19, 1643–1652, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40201-021-00720-y.
[11] ICRP (INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION). Protection Against Radon-222 at Home and at Work. ICRP Publication 65. Ann. ICRP 23 (2), 1994.
[12] HUNGARIAN REGULATION 10 16/2000, 2000. Ministry of Health implementing the provisions of the law No. CXVI. of the year 1996.
[13] ICRP (INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION). The 2007 Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection. ICRP Publication 103. Ann. ICRP. 37 (2-4), 2007.
[14] BOYD, M.A. The Confusing World of Radiation Dosimetry – 9444, WM2009 Conference, March 1–5, 2009, Phoenix.
[15] IAEA (INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY). Safety Standards Series No. GSR Part 3 (Interim)-Radiation Protection and Safety of Radiation Sources: International Basic Safety Standards. IAEA, Vienna, (2011).
[16] NRC (US NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION). NRC Regulations Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations; Part 20 - Standards for Protection Against Radiation. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC, (2011).
[17] COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (2014). Council directive 2013/59/EURATOM, European Basic Safety Standards (BSS) for protection against ionising radiation Official Journal of the European Union, L 13/1. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32013L0059.
[18] ICRP (INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION). 126 Radiological Protection against Radon Exposure. ICRP Publication 126. Ann. ICRP 43(3), 2014.
[19] La VERDE, G., ROCA, V., SABBARESE,C., AMBROSINO, F., PUGLIESE, M. (2018). The equilibrium factor in the radon dose calculation in the archaeological site of Acquedotto Augusteo del Serino in Naples. IL NUOVO CIMENTO 41 C, 2018. DOI10.1393/ncc/i2018-18218-1.
[20] ICRP (INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION). Occupational Intakes of Radionuclides: Part 3. ICRP Publication 137. Ann. ICRP 46(3/4), 2017.
[21] NCRPM (NATIONAL COUNCIL ON RADIATION PROTECTION AND MEASUREMENTS). Measurement of Radon and Radon Daughters in Air. NCRP Report No.97, 1988.
[22] PORSTENDÖRFER, J., BUTTERWECK, G., REINEKING, A. Daily variation of the radon concentration indoors and outdoors and the influence of meteorological parameters. Health Phys. 67(3):283-7, (1994). doi: 10.1097/00004032-199409000-00011.
[23] Di CARLO,C., AMPOLLINI,M., ANTIGNANI,S., CAPRIO,M., CARPENTIERI,C., CACCIA,B., BOCHICCHIO, F. Extreme reverse seasonal variations of indoor radon concentration and possible implications on some measurement protocols and remedial strategies. Environmental Pollution, Volume 327,15, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121480.
[24] RAMOLA, R.C., RAWAT, R.B.S., KANDARI, M.S., RAMACHANDRAN,T.V., EAPPEN, K.P., SUBBA RAMU M.C. Calibration of LR-115 Plastic Track Detectors for Environmental Radon Measurements. Indoor and Built Environment. 1996; 5(6):364-366, 1996. doi:10.1177/1420326X9600500610.
[25] BAKACAK, P.K., EKINCI, N., KAVAZ, E. Determination of Radon Concentration by Using CR-39 Plastic Track Detectors in Dwellings of Bingöl and Mus Provinces of Turkey. Asian Journal of Chemistry 30(1):226-230, 2018. DOI:10.14233/ajchem.2018.21094.
[26] HASHIM, A.K., A.K., HATIF, A.R., AHMED, N.M., WADI, I.A., AL QAAOD,A.A. Comparison study of CR-39 and CN-85 detectors to evaluate the alpha radioactivity of some samples of drinks in Iraq. Applied Radiation and Isotopes. 167. 109410, 2021
[27] CHACHAGE, C.S.L. “The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth but not the Mining Rights: The Mining Industry and Accumulation in Tanzania.” In Liberalised Development in Tanzania, edited by P, Gibbon, 37-109, 1995. Uppsala: Nordiska Afrikainstitutet.
[28] HELLIESEN, M.S. Tangled up in Blue: Tanzanite Mining and Conflict in Mererani, Tanzania, Critical African Studies, 4:7, 58-93, 2012. DOI: 10.1080/21681392.2012.10597799
[29] THE TANZANITE EXPERIENCE, available online at:
https://www.tanzaniteexperience.com/tanzanite-mining-all-you-need-to-know/#toc-280191-1; accessed on 4th March 2025.
[30] SHAHROKHI, A., KOVÁCS, T. Characterization of environmental radiological parameters on dose coefficient - Realistic dosimetry compared with epidemiological dosimetry models. Heliyon, 2023 ; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19813.
[31] KAHULUDA, E.M., ISMAEL, N. MAKUNDI.. Determination of Radon Gas and Respirable ore dust concentrations in the underground Merelani Tanzanite Mines. Tanzania Journal of Science .(40): 13 – 19, 2014.
Descargas
Publicado
Número
Sección
Licencia
Derechos de autor 2025 Shovi F. Sawe

Esta obra está bajo una licencia internacional Creative Commons Atribución 4.0.
Licencia: los artículos de BJRS tienen una licencia internacional Creative Commons Attribution 4.0, que permite el uso, el intercambio, la adaptación, la distribución y la reproducción en cualquier medio o formato, siempre que se otorgue el crédito correspondiente al autor o autores originales y a la fuente, proporcione un enlace a la licencia Creative Commons e indique si se realizaron cambios. Las imágenes u otros materiales de terceros en el artículo están incluidos en la licencia Creative Commons del artículo, a menos que se indique lo contrario en una línea de crédito al material. Si el material no está incluido en la licencia Creative Commons del artículo y su uso previsto no está permitido por la regulación legal o excede el uso permitido, el autor deberá obtener el permiso directamente del titular de los derechos de autor. Para ver una copia de esta licencia, visite http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/