An analysis of the radioactive contamination due to radon in a granite processing plant and its decontamination by ventilation.

Autor: Dieguez-Elizondo PM; Public University of Navarre, Campus de Arrosadía, 31006 Pamplona, Spain., Gil-Lopez T; Madrid Polytechnic University, Avda. Juan de Herrera, 6, 28040 Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: tomas.gill@upm.es., O'Donohoe PG; Madrid Polytechnic University, Avda. Juan de Herrera, 6, 28040 Madrid, Spain., Castejon-Navas J; Madrid Polytechnic University, Avda. Juan de Herrera, 6, 28040 Madrid, Spain., Galvez-Huerta MA; Federico Santa María Technical University, Avenida España, 1680 Valparaíso, Chile.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Journal of environmental radioactivity [J Environ Radioact] 2017 Feb; Vol. 167, pp. 26-35. Date of Electronic Publication: 2016 Nov 18.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.11.016
Abstrakt: This work focuses on studying concentration distribution of 222 Rn radioisotope in a granite processing plant. Using Computational Fluid Dynamic Techniques (CFD), the exposure of the workers to radiation was assessed and, in order to minimise this exposure, different decontamination scenarios using ventilation were analysed. Natural ventilation showed not sufficient to maintain radon concentration below acceptable limits, so a forced ventilation was used instead. Position of the granite blocks also revealed as a determining factor in the radioactive level distribution. Thus, a correct layout of the stored material and an adequate ventilation system can guarantee free of exposure to radiation zones within the studied workshop. This leads to a drastic fall in the exposure of the workers and consequently minimises their risk of developing aggressive illness like lung cancer.
(Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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