Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer

Vol. 14 No. E (2023)
VI International Meeting of the faculty of Sciences (IMFaS 2023)

Contenido especial

Radon Concentration in Coal Mining In Corrales- Boyacá

https://doi.org/10.19053/uptc.01217488.v14.nE.2023.17441

Published 2023-12-12

  • A.C Franco-Becerra
    • ,
  • S.A Martínez-Ovalle
    • ,
  • A.T. Montañez-Reyes
    • ,
  • L. Sajó-Bohus

A.C Franco-Becerra
Universidad Pedagogica y Tecnologica de Colombia

S.A Martínez-Ovalle
Universidad Simon Bolıvar

A.T. Montañez-Reyes
Universidad Pedagogica y Tecnologica de Colombia

L. Sajó-Bohus
Centro de Cancerologıa de Boyaca

Abstract

The concentrations of radon 222Rn can be quantified using active and passive measurements (in situ). This radioactive gas in enclosed spaces such as underground coal mines is a silent threat because inhaling it at high concentrations can induce lung cancer in workers exposed for extended periods. Currently, Colombia lacks protocols for the measurement and prevention of this radioactive gas. Therefore, the primary objective of this study is to measure the concentrations of 222Rn to which the workers in the El Volca ́n coal mine, located in the municipality of Corrales in the Boyaca ́ department of Colombia, are exposed. To achieve this, a radiological mapping was conducted inside the mine using nuclear track detectors placed within diffusion chambers. A total of 32 measurement points were monitored over a 60-day period, obtaining 222Rn activity concentrations rangingfrom700to2000 Bq·m−3.WhencomparedtothepermissiblelimitsrecommendedbytheICRP,thesemeasurements fall within the allowed range for enclosed spaces. These measurements were extrapolated to calculate the probability of radiological risk associated with lung cancer in this specific mine. In conclusion, the calculations show low concentrations of this radioactive gas, 222Rn, and consequently, low doses absorbed by the personnel.

Keywords

(222Rn), alpha, coal, LR-115, dosimetry, lung cancer risk.

PDF (Español)

References

  • Clement, Christopher H and Tirmarche, M and Harrison, JD and Laurier, D and Paquet, F and Blanchardon, E and Marsh, JW. Lung cancer risk from radon and progeny and statement on radon. SAGE Publications Sage UK: London, England vol. 40, pp. 1-64, 2010.
  • Seltenrich, N. Radon risk: A global estimate of radon’s contribution to lung cancer. Environmental Health Perspectives, vol. 127(2), 024001, 2019.
  • Lubin, JH, Boice Jr, JD, Edling, C., Hornung, RW, Howe, GR, Kunz, E. and Pierce, DA. Cáncer de pulmón en mineros expuestos al ^222Rn y estimación del riesgo por exposición en interiores. JNCI: Revista del Instituto Nacional del Cáncer, vol. 87(11), pp. 817-827, 1995.
  • Zeeb, H., and Shannoun, F. Manual de la OMS Sobre el Radón en Interiores: Una perspectiva de salud Pública. Organización Mundial de la Salud. 2015.
  • Rojas-Arias, N., Sandoval-Garzón, M. A., Medina-Higuera, J. D., Sajo-Bohus, L., and Martínez-Ovalle, S. A. Seasonal variation of the S-index as it relates to the concentration of ^222Rn inside a bunker that stores radioactive material. Applied Radiation and Isotopes, vol. 162, 109173, 2020.
  • Jacobs, W. (n.d.). Analytics.com.de: Willkommen auf der internetpräsenz von radon analytics - messgeräte für Radon. radon. https://www.radon-analytics.com/index.php?show=markus10 [Fecha de acceso:20.09.2023]
  • Dositometría de Radiación Ionizantes. Dosirad. (n.d.). http://dosirad.com/ [Fecha de acceso:22.09.2023]
  • Sandoval-Garzón, M. A., Ávila-Abril, L. A., Garcia-Rodriguez, A. M., Bermúdez, M. A., Martínez-Ovalle, S. A., and Sajo-Bohus, L. A new graph of soil Rn-gas transport: Radon-rose plot. Applied Radiation and Isotopes, vol. 169, 109521, 2021.
  • Muñoz, B. E. L., and García, J. L. I. Radiactividad natural y artificial en nuestro entorno. Ciencia,1 pp. 6-16, 2004.
  • Eappen, K. P., and Mayya, Y. S. Calibration factors for LR-115 (type-II) based ^222Rn thoron discriminating dosimeter. Radiation measurements, vol. 38(1), pp. 5-17, 2004.
  • ICRP-103, ICRP publication 103. Ann ICRP, vol. 37(2.4), 2, 2007.
  • Aguilar Aguilar, A. J. Determinación de los niveles de ^222Rn presentes en la mina subterránea El Señor de Roma en el cantón Zaruma-El Oro, Ecuador (Bachelor's thesis). 2018.
  • ICRP, I. Publication 61: Annual limits on intake of radionuclides for workers based on the 1990 recommendations. 1990.
  • Darby, S., Hill, D., Deo, H., et al. Radón residencial y cáncer de pulmón: resultados detallados de un análisis colaborativo de datos individuales de 7.148 personas con cáncer de pulmón y 14.208 personas sin cáncer de pulmón de 13 estudios epidemiológicos en Europa. Revista escandinava de
  • trabajo, medio ambiente y salud, pp. 1-84, 2006.
  • Krewski, D., Lubin, JH, Zielinski, JM, Alavanja, M., Catalan, VS, William Field, R.and Wilcox, HB. Un análisis combinado de estudios de casos y controles en América del Norte sobre radón residencial y cáncer de pulmón. Revista de Toxicología y Salud Ambiental, Parte A, vol. 69 (7-8), pp. 533-597, 2006.
  • Lubin, JH, Wang, ZY, Boice Jr, JD, Xu, ZY, Blot, WJ, De Wang, L. y Kleinerman, RA. Riesgo de cáncer de pulmón y radón residencial en China: resultados agrupados de dos estudios. Revista internacional de cáncer, vol. 109 (1), pp. 132-137, 2004.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.