Estimation radon exposure in underground gold mines in Colombia.

This article focuses on measuring radon gas concentrations and associated radiation doses in a gold mining area in Antioquia, Colombia, to assess miners' potential exposure risks. Using EPERM electret chambers and DOSEman PRO detectors over two years at seven points across three geological zones, radon levels ranged from 858 ± 59 to 2469 ± 158 Bq/m³, with equilibrium factors between 0.15 and 0.27. Annual effective doses calculated by two methodologies—UNSCEAR and the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) Publication 137—reached up to 7.7 mSv and 13.5 mSv respectively, indicating some measurements exceed recommended action levels for occupational exposure. The study highlights the absence of national regulations in Colombia regarding radon exposure in mining, emphasizing the need for individual monitoring, improved ventilation, and further research to protect miners from radon-related health risks.