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Highlights

  • Year-long monitoring of radon, temperature, and airflow in nine UNESCO caves, N. Spain
  • Radon poses a major health hazard requiring strict management in tourist caves
  • A protocol to assess radon exposure provides management tools for cave administrators

Abstract

Exposure to radon and its progeny poses a significant health risk for workers in tourist caves. Implementing protective measures is challenging due to increasingly strict gas concentration and dose limits in new regulations. This study evaluates the annual effective radiation doses received by workers and researchers, considering seasonal and spatial radon variability. Radon levels, temperature, and ventilation patterns were continuously monitored for at least one year in each cave. Results show significant radon fluctuations influenced by seasonal ventilation regimes driven by thermal gradients between the cave and external atmosphere. Using International Commission on Radiological Protection guidelines, the study calculates the maximum allowable working hours to comply with European and Spanish regulations, which set an annual dose limit of 20 mSv for occupational exposure. Findings emphasize the necessity of continuous radon monitoring and tailored management strategies, such as adjusting work schedules and restricting access during high-radon periods. Additionally, the study highlights the limitations of passive radon detectors, which tend to underestimate actual radon levels compared to continuous monitoring. This research provides a protocol for managing radon exposure in culturally significant caves while ensuring worker and visitor safety. The methodology includes initial spatial dosimetry, continuous monitoring, and safe working hour recommendations based on monthly radon levels. Monitoring should also consider parameters like temperature, humidity, and CO₂ to understand ventilation dynamics. These measures are essential for compliance with radioprotection standards while preserving the integrity of these unique cultural and historical sites.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5038/1827-806X.ijs2570

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License.

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