Airborne radon and its progeny levels in the coal mines of Godavarikhani, Andhra Pradesh, India*

Abstract

In India, out of about 0.7 million miners, nearly 0.5 million persons are directly engaged in coal operations. Radon and its progeny levels have been quantified in the coal-mining environment of Godavarikhani, Andhra Pradesh, India using solid-state nuclear track detectors. Seasonal and mine depth variations in radon levels have been recorded resulting in the identification of locations with a high radon level as areas with no mining activity, active mining operational zones and return air ventilation paths. All these radon levels were below the permissible levels. The average concentrations of radon and its progeny levels were found to be 144 +/- 61 Bq m(-3) and 20 +/- 11 mWL (working level) respectively in the two-incline mine, and these values for the five-incline mine are recorded as 315 +/- 71 Bq m(-3) and 30 +/- 9 mWL respectively.