MEASUREMENTS OF NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY IN EGYPTIAN DIFFERENT UNDERGROUND PHOSPHATE MINES

In addition to the workers in uranium mines, the staff of other underground mines, such as workers to underground phosphate mines, can be exposed in 222Rn 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 (218Po, 214Pb, and 214Po). 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 (218Po, 214Pb and 214Po) 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 concentrations were recommended in this study to minimize these exposure levels.