Radon daughter equilibrium and unattached fraction in mine atmospheres. 1982

E Stranden, and L Berteig

Measurements of the equilibrium between radon and its daughters in mine atmospheres are presented. The situation in mines seems to be too complex to be described by any simple theoretical model. There is however a good correlation between the equilibrium factor, F, and the individual daughter ratios. This suggests that the individual daughter concentrations may be assessed by Kusnetz-measurements of the equilibrium factor, F. Measurements by the wire screen method indicate that the dust concentration is the main influencing factor upon the unattached fraction of the radon daughters. The unattached fraction of the potential alpha-energy was lower than 0.05 in most mining situations. In areas with very clean air, the unattached fraction may however be higher than 0.3. Measurements indicated a good correlation between the unattached fraction of the potential alpha-energy and the unattached fraction of the individual daughter products. This suggests that assessments of the unattached fraction of the individual daughters may be obtained by using the Kusnetz method for measurements on the screen and back up filter.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007501 Iron A metallic element with atomic symbol Fe, atomic number 26, and atomic weight 55.85. It is an essential constituent of HEMOGLOBINS; CYTOCHROMES; and IRON-BINDING PROTEINS. It plays a role in cellular redox reactions and in the transport of OXYGEN. Iron-56,Iron 56
D007854 Lead A soft, grayish metal with poisonous salts; atomic number 82, atomic weight 207.2, symbol Pb.
D008722 Methods A series of steps taken in order to conduct research. Techniques,Methodological Studies,Methodological Study,Procedures,Studies, Methodological,Study, Methodological,Method,Procedure,Technique
D008906 Mining The process of extracting mineral deposits from the earth.
D011059 Polonium A radioactive element that is a member of the chalcogen family. It has the atomic symbol Po, atomic number 84, and the atomic weight of the isotope with the longest half-life (209Po) is 208.98. It decays by alpha-emission.
D001729 Bismuth A metallic element that has the atomic symbol Bi, and atomic number 83. Its principal isotope is Bismuth 209.
D004391 Dust Earth or other matter in fine, dry particles. (Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2d ed) House Dust,Housedust,Dust, House
D000398 Air Pollution, Radioactive Contamination of air with radioactive substances. Radioactive Air Pollution,Pollution, Radioactive Air
D000512 Alpha Particles Positively charged particles composed of two protons and two NEUTRONS, i.e. equivalent to HELIUM nuclei, which are emitted during disintegration of heavy ISOTOPES. Alpha rays have very strong ionizing power, but weak penetrability. Alpha Rays,Alpha Radiation,Radiation, Alpha,Alpha Particle,Alpha Ray,Particle, Alpha,Particles, Alpha,Ray, Alpha,Rays, Alpha
D017687 Radon Daughters Short-lived radioactive decay products of radon that include 216-Po, 214-Pb, 214-Bi, and 214-Po. They have an effective half-life of about 30 minutes and are solids that can deposit on the bronchial airways during inhalation and exhalation. This results in exposure of the respiratory airways to alpha radiation and can lead to diseases of the respiratory system, including lung cancer. (From Casarett and Doull's Toxicology, 4th ed, p740) Radon Daughter Nuclides,Radon Decay Products,Radon Progeny,Thoron Daughter Nuclides,Thoron Daughters,Thoron Decay Products,Thoron Progeny,Daughter Nuclides, Radon,Daughter Nuclides, Thoron,Daughters, Radon,Daughters, Thoron,Decay Products, Radon,Decay Products, Thoron

Related Publications

E Stranden, and L Berteig
July 1969, Nature,
E Stranden, and L Berteig
December 1956, American Industrial Hygiene Association quarterly,
E Stranden, and L Berteig
June 1975, American Industrial Hygiene Association journal,
E Stranden, and L Berteig
August 1964, Science (New York, N.Y.),
E Stranden, and L Berteig
February 1975, Health physics,
E Stranden, and L Berteig
December 1998, Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine,
Copied contents to your clipboard!