Radon concentration in dwellings in the mining area of “Trepča” complex.

Abstract

This paper presents the results of radon concentration in ground floor dwellings in the vicinity of the "Trepča" mine. Earlier studies on radon in the area of Kosovska Mitrovica have shown that there are dwellings with high values of this radioactive gas, which can be related to technological activities that can change the concentrations of natural radioactive materials in the environment. According to the World Health Organization, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. The history of lung cancer in miners has been known for more than a hundred years, and epidemiological studies in some mining areas of the world, especially in the areas of uranium mines, have confirmed this connection. The mean values of radon concentration were measured with an Airthings Correntium Home detector (alpha-spectrometric detection method was applied). Radon values in selected dwellings ranged from 19 to 225 Bq/m3. The results of this research show that there are indications that the level of radon in some family buildings in the area of the complex "Trepča" is slightly elevated. Ground shakings caused by mining activities increase emissions of various gases, including radon, and in such conditions, a constant monitoring is necessary and control in order to reduce radioactivity and identify radiologically sensitive locations.