Study on radon radiation dose from some in-situ leaching uranium mine of Xinjiang

In order to master the radiation dose of radon exhalation from in-situ leaching uranium mine, the radon concentrations and radon exhalation rate in the ambient air were investigated and measured through in-situ leaching uranium. The annual personal radiation dose of hydrometallurgy workshop on staff was estimated. The distribution of radon concentration values, as well as public individual dose in each area at the range of 20 kilometers around, caused by leaching pool and evaporation pool, were simulated by utilizing UAIR-FINE. The results showed that the concentration of radon in the well field and outside the hydrometallurgy plant was at the basic environmental background level; the radon concentration in the living area and workplace and the individual radiation dose on worker were found to be under the national criterion; the maximum radon concentration values and public individual dose were lower than state target limit. Therefore it has little influence for radon exhalation from in-situ leaching uranium mine. Moreover, reasonable suggestions of radon exhalation according to the characteristics of in-situ leaching uranium deposits were also proposed. (authors)