Estimates of effective doses among Czech uranium miners

Abstract

Radiation doses in Czech uranium mines are estimated using measurements of physical and chemical characteristics of the mining aerosol. The main parameters were: size, chemical solubility in lung fluid, and amount of Rn gas emanating from uranium particles. Based on these parameters, committed effective doses from long lived radionuclides in uranium dust were calculated using the IMBA software. In conditions at mine Rozna in 2000–2009, mean annual effective doses are 1.9 mSv from long lived radionuclides, 4.1 mSv from radon and its progeny and 2.2 mSv from external gamma radiation.