『Abstract
Radon concentration and gamma activity concentration of naturally
occurring radionuclides were determined and presented for two
tourist caves (Karaca and Cal(Cにセディーユが付く)
caves) in this study. These caves are reported to receive about
77,000 visitors during the summer season in 2007. It was seen
that mean radon activity concentrations for the winter and summer
seasons for the karaca cave is 1,023 and 823 Bq/m3
and for the Cal(Cにセディーユが付く) cave is 264 and
473 Bq/m3. Mean 236Ra, 232Th,
and 40K activity concentrations are found to be 43,
19, and 262 Bq/kg for the Karaca cave and 31, 27, and 460 Bq/kg
for the Cal(Cにセディーユが付く) cave. Doses received
by the cave guides due to radon were estimated to be 2.9 mSv/year
for the winter season and 2.3 mSv/year for the summer season for
the Karaca cave. Same values were estimated for the Cal(Cにセディーユが付く)
cave, and the results were found to be 0.6 mSv/year for the winter
season and 1.1 mSv/year for the summer season. Annual effective
doses received by the visitors in both caves were estimated to
be in the order of μSv/year because of the short exposure time
comparing the cave guides. Although the reported values are below
the recommended values, both groups are exposed to possible radiological
risk during their stay inside the cave, since prolonged exposure
to high radon concentration has been linked to lung cancer.
Keywords: Radon; Exposure; Cave; Turkey』
1. Introduction
2. materials and methods
2.1. Karaca cave
2.2. Cal(Cにセディーユが付く) cave
2.3. Radon measurements
2.4. Radioactivity measurement in soil
2.5. Exposure dose estimation
3. Results and discussion
4. Conclusion
Acknowledgements
References