Emanation of radon in underground uranium mines - an overview

Emunation of radon from rock surfaces in underground uranium mines is a continuous process and its magnitude depends on several factors such as radium content, porosity, moisture content and mineralogical characteristics of the ore. The radon gas entering into mine atmosphere starts decaying into its daughter products, which attach themselves to the dust particles in mine atmosphere. Inhalation of radon and its daughters are recognized as the primary cause of health hazard to the miners. Thus, accurate estimation of radon emanation is essential to control the radiation levels within the safe limits and protect the miners from radiation hazards. This paper presents an overview of different sources of radon in underground uranium mines. It also discusses the prediction of radon emanation rate in underground uranium mines based on diffusion theory and growth of radon daughters. (author)