Natural radioactivity in aerosols collected in a NORM Industry: Radiological implications

¹ Dpto Fίsica Aplicada, Facultad Ciencias Experimentales, Universidad de Huelva, 21071 Huelva, Spain
² Dpto Fίsica Aplicada II, E.T.S. Arquitectura, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Sevilla, Spain

Corresponding author: gtenorio@us.es

Abstract

On the frame of a broad project devoted to the evaluation of the occupational and environmental radiological impact of several NORM industries located at the South-West Spain, a study determining the U-series radionuclides levels in air particulate matter has been accomplished inside a phosphate rock processing plant dedicated to phosphoric acid production. U-series radionuclides concentrations in aerosols collected inside this plant have been determined and compared with those obtained in aerosols collected from a reference monitoring station not affected by NORM industries or other anthropogenic inputs. Additionally, based on the observed increments in the volumetric concentrations of the radionuclides from the U-series in the plant, the increase in the occupational doses due to inhalation for their workers has been estimated. Even under conservative assumptions, the dose enhancements are clearly below 1 mSv/year, the annual limit for the public.