A study on the distribution of radioactivity in uranium mines

Scintillation counting techniques developed for routine radiological health monitoring in the uranium mine at Jaduguda are described. A brief description of the mine and mining activities is given and the radiological hazards encountered in a uranium mine are summarised. The main hazard is the inhalation hazard due to radon and air borne, short lived radon daughter products. A summary of results of monitoring (radon in air and water) conducted during the last 10 years using the methods described in these studies is presented. Based on the monitoring data, the cumulative exposure of miners to radon daughters has been estimated. The values applicable to certain categories of workers as a whole are given. From the data it appears that the muckers are the most exposed. The average figure in their case is 3.32 WLM which is much less than the standard adopted in U.S.A. (4 WLM year). (A.K.)