Control of Exposure Assessment Parameters to Ionising Radiation Under New Air Exchange (Ventilation) Conditions: A Case Study of the Underground Tourist Route in Książ

Radon (222Rn) is a naturally occurring radioactive noble gas that is a major source of ionising radiation in the environment. Many measurement techniques can be used to monitor 222Rn concentrations in the workplace. The main purpose of conducting such measurements is to identify locations of exposure, determine the effective dose for workers and, if necessary, define actions for reducing the exposure. As part of this study, a series of measurements were conducted in the underground tourist route at Książ Castle in Poland. The route has been open to visitors since late 2018. The measurements included long- and short-term tests. Passive and active methods were used to measure the 222Rn activity concentration. Additionally, the potential alpha energy concentration and ambient and radioactive aerosol size distributions were measured. Finally, the annual effective dose for workers was estimated. The dose was calculated while factoring in the legal regulations in the Czech Republic and Poland to demonstrate their effect on the final results. The obtained values were low—they did not exceed 0.218 mSv (for the specified exposure time)—indicating the effectiveness of natural ventilation and a low radiation risk to personnel.