Assessment of radioactivity associated with a low ore grade open cast mine at Banduhurang, Jharkhand, India and estimation of occupational exposure to the miners.

Rana, B. K.; Shukla, A. K.; Topno, R.; Tripathi, R. M.; Puranik, V. D.

The study summarizes radiological characteristics of Banduhurang open cast mine which includes qualitative and quantitative behavior of Rn concentration, external gamma radiation level over the mine pit as well as in its adjoining environment, long-lived alpha (LLα) activity concentration associated with the respirable size of ore dust and assessment of dose to the mine workers in 2006–2008. The investigations reveal that geometric means (χ) of measured radon concentration were 36.39, 38.69, 26.64 and 24 Bq m with respective geometric standard deviations (σ) were 1.52, 1.55, 1.36 and 1.68 Bq m and χ of gamma absorbed dose rates were 0.54, 0.64, 0. 45 and 0.15 μGy h with respective σ were 1.63, 1.53, 1.52 and 1.72 μGy h over the mine pit, ore yard, waste yard and in the surrounding environment within a 10 km radius to the mine, respectively. The χ of LLα activity was observed to be 16 mBq m with σ of 1.9 mBq m. The annual mean effective dose equivalent received by the member radiation workers of Banduhurang mine was estimated to 1.41 mSv y, which is about 7% of the prescribed dose limits of 20 mSv y.

INDIA; RADON; HEALTH of miners; GAMMA rays; RADIATION doses; MINERAL industries; MINES & mineral resources

Journal of Radioanalytical & Nuclear Chemistry, 2010, Vol 285, Issue 3, p505

0236-5731

Academic Journal

10.1007/s10967-010-0563-z