Evaluation of activated carbon canisters for radon protection in uranium mines
The protection against radon gas afforded by several types of activated carbon gas mask canisters was determined, since uranium mine personnel are occasionally exposed to radon concentrations in the thousands of pCi/l range, and calculations showed that 3300 pCi/l of radon was equivalent to the permissible level of 0.3 WL of radon daughters on the basis of potential alpha energy release in the respiratory tract. The canisters were tested at radon concentrations from about 1500 to 40,000 pCi/l and flow rates from 8 to 64 l/min. Other variables studied were test air humidity, water content of the carbon, and temperature. Results indicated that a canister containing about 900 ml of dry, highgrade activated carbon, used at a breathing rate of 16 l/min, would provide almost 100% protection against radon for a period of one hour at a temperature of 25 deg C and an air humidity of about 9 mg/l. Protection would be provided for a longer period at the lower temperatures existing in uranium mines. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- USAEC Health and Safety Lab., New York
- NSA Number:
- NSA-29-024164
- OSTI ID:
- 4309278
- Report Number(s):
- HASL--280
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Adsorption of radon gas in humid air on charcoal canisters
Systems for continuous measurement of airborne radon-222 concentration and working level
Cost survey for radon daughter control by ventilation and other control techniques: radon emissions from underground uranium mines. Volume 2. Open file report, 30 September 1981-31 July 1984
Conference
·
Sat Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1988
· Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (USA)
·
OSTI ID:5230935
Systems for continuous measurement of airborne radon-222 concentration and working level
Technical Report
·
Mon Mar 31 23:00:00 EST 1980
·
OSTI ID:6382652
Cost survey for radon daughter control by ventilation and other control techniques: radon emissions from underground uranium mines. Volume 2. Open file report, 30 September 1981-31 July 1984
Technical Report
·
Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1984
·
OSTI ID:5873786