Journal article
Occupational Exposure of Water-Plant Operators to High Concentrations of Radon-222 Gas
Journal of occupational and environmental medicine, Vol.38(8), pp.759-764
08/1996
DOI: 10.1097/00043764-199608000-00010
PMID: 8863200
Abstract
Water-plant operators may be exposed to high airborne radon-222 (Rn) concentrations created when Rn gas transfers from water to air during the water treatment processes. To evaluate this hazard, we placed yearlong alpha-track radon detectors in 31 water plants. The geometric mean of the annual average airborne Rn concentrations was 3.4 pCi L (126 Bq m, with a maximum of 133 pCi L (4921 Bq m). We assessed the short-term temporal variability of Rn by monitoring four water plants continuously for a 3- to 6-day period. Cumulative working level months were estimated for the time workers were in the water plants. Because airborne Rn concentrations in water plants can reach levels considered unsafe for underground miners, it would be prudent to monitor airborne Rn concentrations in water plants which aerate water as part of their treatment process.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Occupational Exposure of Water-Plant Operators to High Concentrations of Radon-222 Gas
- Creators
- Eileen Fisher - University of IowaLaurence FuortesR. William Field
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of occupational and environmental medicine, Vol.38(8), pp.759-764
- Publisher
- Williams & Wilkins
- DOI
- 10.1097/00043764-199608000-00010
- PMID
- 8863200
- ISSN
- 1076-2752
- eISSN
- 1536-5948
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 08/1996
- Academic Unit
- Occupational and Environmental Health; Epidemiology; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984364445002771
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