Radiological risk assessment of outdoor222Rn and220Rn around rare earth element and uranium mines from northern Vietnam

Van-Hiep Hoang; Nguyen Tai Tue; Thai-Son Nguyen; Tran Dang Quy; Thanh-Duong Nguyen; Van-Dung Nguyen

doi:10.1088/1361-6498/acda43

Radiological risk assessment of outdoor²²²Rn and²²⁰Rn around rare earth element and uranium mines from northern Vietnam

J Radiol Prot. 2023 Jun 8;43(2). doi: 10.1088/1361-6498/acda43.

Authors

Van-Hiep Hoang¹, Nguyen Tai Tue^{2

3}, Thai-Son Nguyen⁴, Tran Dang Quy^{2

3}, Thanh-Duong Nguyen⁵, Van-Dung Nguyen⁵

Affiliations

¹ VNU School of Interdisciplinary Studies, Vietnam National University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam.
² Key Laboratory of Geoenvironment and Climate Change Response, University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam.
³ Faculty of Geology, University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam.
⁴ Radioactive & Rare Minerals Division, Xuan Phuong, Bac Tu Liem, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam.
⁵ Hanoi University of Mining and Geology (HUMG), Hanoi 100000, Vietnam.

PMID: 37257439
DOI: 10.1088/1361-6498/acda43

Abstract

The outdoor²²²Rn and²²⁰Rn concentrations at 320 sampling points at 1 m above the ground in different sites surrounding rare earth element (REE) and uranium mines from northern Vietnam were measured using the RAD7. Results showed that²²²Rn concentrations were always higher than²²⁰Rn concentrations with large variation ranges from 25.7 to 573 Bq m^-3and from 18.5 to 385 Bq m^-3, respectively. The high correlation between²²⁰Rn and²²⁸Ra concentrations in surface soil of the studied sites were observed. The highest²²⁰Rn and²²²Rn concentrations are found at the sampling points of the REE NX-Lai Chau site. The²²⁰Rn and²²²Rn activities surrounding the REE mines were found to be higher than those surrounding the uranium mines. The average annual committed effective doses originated from the inhalation of²²⁰Rn and²²²Rn outdoor concentrations is about five times higher than the worldwide average value.

Keywords: 220Rn and 222Rn; REE mines; natural radionuclides; northern Vietnam; radiological hazard; uranium mines.

MeSH terms

Mining
Radiation Monitoring*
Radon* / analysis
Risk Assessment
Uranium* / analysis
Vietnam

Substances

Radon
Uranium