US EPA

1434555 

Journal Article 

Radon progeny in Egyptian underground phosphate mines 

El-Hady, MA; Mohammed, A; El-Hussein, A; Ali, AE; Ahmed, AA 

2001 

1 

Radiation Protection Dosimetry
ISSN: 0144-8420
EISSN: 1742-3406 

95 

1 

63-68 

English 

11468809 

WOS:000169731000011 

In addition to the workers in uranium mines, the staff of
other underground mines, such as workers in underground phosphate mines, can be exposed to Rn-222
and its progeny. In this study the individual radon progeny concentrations were measured in three
Egyptian underground phosphate mines to estimate the occupational exposure of the workers at
those sites. A filter method was used to measure individual radon progeny concentrations (Po-218,
Pb-214 and Po-214). The reported mean values of radon progeny concentrations exceed the action
levels which are recommended by ICRP 65 (1993). Based on the measured individual radon progeny
concentrations (Po-218, Pb-214 and Po-214) in these mines, the annual effective dose for the
workers has been calculated using the lung dose model of ICRP 66 (1994). According to the
obtained results, some countermeasures were recommended in this study to minimise these exposure
levels.