Radon concentrations in coal mines of Baluchistan, Pakistan

• Published in: Journal of environmental radioactivity Vol. 48; no. 2; pp. 203 - 209
• Main Authors: Qureshi, A.A, Kakar, D.M, Akram, M, Khattak, N.U, Tufail, M, Mehmood, K, Jamil, K, Khan, H.A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2000; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Biological and medical sciences; Biological effects of radiation; Dosimetry; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Health hazards; Indoor pollution and occupational exposure; Pakistan, Baluchistan; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; Radiation protection; Radioactivity; Radiocontamination; Radon; Tissues, organs and organisms biophysics; Track etching; Working level; Asia; Pakistan; Radon; Health hazards; Track etching; Dosimetry; Working level; Radiation protection; Radioactivity; Human; Natural origin pollution; Radioactive pollution; Radon 222; Surveillance; Coal mine; Radioactive contamination; Radioisotope; Occupational exposure; Public health
• ISSN: 0265-931X; 1879-1700
• DOI: 10.1016/S0265-931X(99)00065-X

Prolonged exposure to radon, the largest source (69%) of natural radioactivity, may cause lung cancer and bronchial tissue damage. So monitoring of radon at places of high radioactivity and in underground mines is important to assess the radiological hazards to occupational workers. For these reasons radon measurements were carried out in some coal mines of Baluchistan, Pakistan. The measurements were based upon passive detection of radon using CN-85 track detectors in Box Type Dosimeters. The radon concentration varied from 121 to 408 Bq m −3 in the mines under study. The computed radon dose varied from 1.38 to 4.67 mSv yr −1 with an average of 2.19±0.5 mSv yr −1. These coal mines have been found to be safe from radon-related health hazards.