Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (한국산업보건학회지)

Korean Industrial Hygiene Association (한국산업보건학회)
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Evaluation of Effective Dose and Exposure Level of Radon in Process Handling NORM

인산석고 취급공정에서의 라돈농도 및 유효선량 수준 평가

  • Chung, Eun Kyo (Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, KOSHA) ;
  • Jang, Jae Kil (Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, KOSHA) ;
  • Kim, Jong Kyu (Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, KOSHA) ;
  • Kim, Joon Beom (Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, KOSHA) ;
  • Kwon, Jiwoon (Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, KOSHA)
  • 정은교 (한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원) ;
  • 장재길 (한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원) ;
  • 김종규 (한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원) ;
  • 김준범 (한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원) ;
  • 권지운 (한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원)
  • Received : 2018.08.08
  • Accepted : 2018.09.21
  • Published : 2018.09.30
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Abstract

Objectives: To monitor the radon concentration level in plants that handle phosphorus rock and produce gypsum board and cement, and evaluate the effective dose considering the effect of radon exposure on the human body. Methods: Airborne radon concentrations were measured using alpha-track radon detectors (${\alpha}$-track, Rn-tech Co., Korea) and continuous monitors (Radon Sentinel 1030, Sun Nuclear Co., USA). Radon concentrations in the air were converted to radon doses using the following equation to evaluate the human effects due to radon. H (mSv/yr) = Radon gas concentration x Equilibrium factor x Occupancy factor x Dose conversion factor. The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) used $8nSv/(Bq{\cdot}hr/m^3)$ as the dose conversion factor in 2010, but raised it by a factor of four to $33nSv/(Bq{\cdot}hr/m^3)$ in 2017. Results: Radon concentrations and effective doses in fertilizer manufacturing process averaged $14.3(2.7)Bq/m^3$ ($2.0-551.3Bq/m^3$), 0.11-0.54 m㏜/yr depending on the advisory authority and recommendation year, respectively. Radon concentrations in the gypsum-board manufacturing process averaged $14.9Bq/m^3$ at material storage, $11.4Bq/m^3$ at burnability, $8.1Bq/m^3$ at mixing, $10.0Bq/m^3$ at forming, $8.9Bq/m^3$ at drying, $14.7Bq/m^3$ at cutting, and $10.5Bq/m^3$ at shipment. It was low because it did not use phosphate gypsum. Radon concentrations and effective doses in the cement manufacturing process were $23.2Bq/m^3$ in the stowage area, $20.2Bq/m^3$ in the hopper, $16.8Bq/m^3$ in the feeder and $11.9Bq/m^3$ in the cement mill, marking 0.12-0.63 m㏜/yr, respectively. Conclusions: Workers handling phosphorous gypsum directly or indirectly can be assessed as exposed to an annual average radon dose of 0.16 to 2.04 mSv or 0.010 to 0.102 WLM (Working Level Month).

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