A brief radiological survey and associated occupational exposure to radiation in an open pit slate mine in Kashan, Iran

Abstract

AbstractA comprehensive radiological survey was carried out in an open-cut slate stone quarry. The activity of 226Ra, 228Ra and 40 K in the ore samples were measured as 38 ± 5, 41 ± 6 and 869 ± 52 Bq kg1, respectively. Outdoor radon and indoor radon concentrations were measured from 37 ± 7 to 193 ± 11 Bq m−3 (77 ± 8 Bq m−3), and 49 ± 6 to 253 ± 23 Bq m−3 (131 ± 13 Bq m−3), respectively. The average indoor and outdoor gamma dose were measured as 116 and 84 nSv h− 1, respectively. The annual effective doses were estimated between 1.0 ± 0.1 and 3.3 ± 0.3 mSv year−1. The annual lung cancer risks were calculated in the range of 3.3 × 10−2 to 13.12 × 10−2 % (7.72 × 10−2%).