Radiological Hazard Related with Natural Radioactivity in Natural Gas Transportation—A Case Study from Poland

Abstract

Activity concentration of 210Pb in black powder and gamma radiation dose rate related to natural gas transportation were discussed. As part of the research, the content of radiolead (210Pb) in black powder, spent filter containers, radon (222Rn) activity concentration in natural gas and gamma radiation dose were measured around selected points of natural gas transportation infrastructure in Poland. The content of some heavy metals was also analyzed. The average concentrations of 222Rn and 210Pb ranged from 30 to 1400 Bq/m3 and from around 450 to 16,000 Bq/kg, respectively. The external exposure to gamma radiation was low; the gamma radiation dose rate was at the level of background radiation or slightly exceeded it. The research demonstrated that the content of 210Pb in black powder is strongly related to radon concentration in natural gas, the volumetric flow rate of the transported natural gas and solid fraction content. Some black powder samples should be classified based on 210Pb content as low-radioactive waste.