Radiological safety assessment for water treatment facility due to radon inhalation in Korea

Water treatment facilities are facilities that use groundwater to produce potable water. Groundwater can contain radon which is a naturally occurring radionuclide, and water treatment facility workers who directly handle groundwater are at risk of internal exposure from radon inhalation. The objecti...

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Main Authors: Seung Beom Yoo, Shin Dong Lee, Jeong Woo Lee, Chang Hee Han, Kwang Pyo Kim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-10-01
Series:Nuclear Engineering and Technology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1738573325002955
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author Seung Beom Yoo
Shin Dong Lee
Jeong Woo Lee
Chang Hee Han
Kwang Pyo Kim
author_facet Seung Beom Yoo
Shin Dong Lee
Jeong Woo Lee
Chang Hee Han
Kwang Pyo Kim
author_sort Seung Beom Yoo
collection DOAJ
description Water treatment facilities are facilities that use groundwater to produce potable water. Groundwater can contain radon which is a naturally occurring radionuclide, and water treatment facility workers who directly handle groundwater are at risk of internal exposure from radon inhalation. The objective of this study is to assess the internal radiation dose from radon inhalation in water treatment facility workers in Korea. To achieve this, we analyzed work processes in 6 water treatment facilities in Korea, and main process areas were investigated through interviews with workers. The airborne radon concentration was measured in the main process areas using the RAD 7 and Raduet radon detector. Radon concentrations measured in the main process areas ranged from 16.6 to 756 Bq m−3, which is below the ICRP's reference level of 1,000 Bq m−3. The internal radiation dose due to radon inhalation ranged from 0.193 to 5.80 mSv y−1. This is about half of the ICRP's reference level of 10 mSv y−1 for radon inhalation. This study can be used as technical data for radiological safety management of NORM industries in Korea.
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series Nuclear Engineering and Technology
spelling doaj-art-ffacf3c8d0ae4a1987ac6b324dd390152025-08-20T03:50:48ZengElsevierNuclear Engineering and Technology1738-57332025-10-01571010372710.1016/j.net.2025.103727Radiological safety assessment for water treatment facility due to radon inhalation in KoreaSeung Beom Yoo0Shin Dong Lee1Jeong Woo Lee2Chang Hee Han3Kwang Pyo Kim4Kyung Hee University, 1732 Deogyeong-daero, Giheung-gu, Yongin-Si, 17104, Republic of KoreaKyung Hee University, 1732 Deogyeong-daero, Giheung-gu, Yongin-Si, 17104, Republic of KoreaKyung Hee University, 1732 Deogyeong-daero, Giheung-gu, Yongin-Si, 17104, Republic of KoreaKyung Hee University, 1732 Deogyeong-daero, Giheung-gu, Yongin-Si, 17104, Republic of KoreaCorresponding author.; Kyung Hee University, 1732 Deogyeong-daero, Giheung-gu, Yongin-Si, 17104, Republic of KoreaWater treatment facilities are facilities that use groundwater to produce potable water. Groundwater can contain radon which is a naturally occurring radionuclide, and water treatment facility workers who directly handle groundwater are at risk of internal exposure from radon inhalation. The objective of this study is to assess the internal radiation dose from radon inhalation in water treatment facility workers in Korea. To achieve this, we analyzed work processes in 6 water treatment facilities in Korea, and main process areas were investigated through interviews with workers. The airborne radon concentration was measured in the main process areas using the RAD 7 and Raduet radon detector. Radon concentrations measured in the main process areas ranged from 16.6 to 756 Bq m−3, which is below the ICRP's reference level of 1,000 Bq m−3. The internal radiation dose due to radon inhalation ranged from 0.193 to 5.80 mSv y−1. This is about half of the ICRP's reference level of 10 mSv y−1 for radon inhalation. This study can be used as technical data for radiological safety management of NORM industries in Korea.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1738573325002955Water treatmentRadonRadon exposureRadiation dose assessment
spellingShingle Seung Beom Yoo
Shin Dong Lee
Jeong Woo Lee
Chang Hee Han
Kwang Pyo Kim
Radiological safety assessment for water treatment facility due to radon inhalation in Korea
Nuclear Engineering and Technology
Water treatment
Radon
Radon exposure
Radiation dose assessment
title Radiological safety assessment for water treatment facility due to radon inhalation in Korea
title_full Radiological safety assessment for water treatment facility due to radon inhalation in Korea
title_fullStr Radiological safety assessment for water treatment facility due to radon inhalation in Korea
title_full_unstemmed Radiological safety assessment for water treatment facility due to radon inhalation in Korea
title_short Radiological safety assessment for water treatment facility due to radon inhalation in Korea
title_sort radiological safety assessment for water treatment facility due to radon inhalation in korea
topic Water treatment
Radon
Radon exposure
Radiation dose assessment
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1738573325002955
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AT changheehan radiologicalsafetyassessmentforwatertreatmentfacilityduetoradoninhalationinkorea
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