Low-Level Radiation Exposure to Some Industrial Workers

Abstract

The industrial workers in units like thermal power plants, gas power plants, LPG bottling plant etc. are exposed everyday to varying amounts of low-level ionizing radiation emitted from radon and its progeny in the environment. These radiations are spontaneously emitted by naturally occurring radioactive material like 238U and 232Th, ever since their existence on earth. The radioactive radon in the atmosphere (indoor and outdoor), soil, ground water, oil and gas deposits contributes the largest fraction of the natural radiation dose to populations, enhanced interest exhibited in tracking its concentration is thus fundamental for radiation protection. In the present work, the annual effective doses received by the industrial workers working in some industrial units have been estimated. For these measurements we have used the alpha sensitive solid-state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs). The concentration of radon and annual effective doses has been calculated using recommendations from International commission on radiological protection (ICRP).