Protocol for assessing and managing radon gas exposure risks in caves: A case study of Altamira and Paleolithic cave art of Northern Spain World Heritage Site
Exposure to radon and its progeny poses a significant health risk for workers in tourist caves. Implementing protective measures is challenging due to increasingly strict gas concentration and dose limits in new regulations. This study evaluates the annual effective radiation doses received by worke...
| Autores: | , , , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2025 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia |
| Repositorio: | e-spacio. Repositorio Institucional de la UNED |
| Idioma: | inglés |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:e-spacio.uned.es:20.500.14468/30790 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14468/30790 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | 2506 Geología Radon gas UNESCO World Heritage radioprotection occupational exposure show caves |
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Protocol for assessing and managing radon gas exposure risks in caves: A case study of Altamira and Paleolithic cave art of Northern Spain World Heritage SiteSánchez Moral, SergioLario Gómez, JavierCuezva, SoledadCañaveras, Juan CarlosMartín Pozas, TamaraFernández Cortés, Angel2506 GeologíaRadon gasUNESCO World Heritageradioprotectionoccupational exposureshow cavesExposure to radon and its progeny poses a significant health risk for workers in tourist caves. Implementing protective measures is challenging due to increasingly strict gas concentration and dose limits in new regulations. This study evaluates the annual effective radiation doses received by workers and researchers, considering seasonal and spatial radon variability. Radon levels, temperature, and ventilation patterns were continuously monitored for at least one year in each cave. Results show significant radon fluctuations influenced by seasonal ventilation regimes driven by thermal gradients between the cave and external atmosphere. Using International Commission on Radiological Protection guidelines, the study calculates the maximum allowable working hours to comply with European and Spanish regulations, which set an annual dose limit of 20 mSv for occupational exposure. Findings emphasize the necessity of continuous radon monitoring and tailored management strategies, such as adjusting work schedules and restricting access during high-radon periods. Additionally, the study highlights the limitations of passive radon detectors, which tend to underestimate actual radon levels compared to continuous monitoring. This research provides a protocol for managing radon exposure in culturally significant caves while ensuring worker and visitor safety. The methodology includes initial spatial dosimetry, continuous monitoring, and safe working hour recommendations based on monthly radon levels. Monitoring should also consider parameters like temperature, humidity, and CO2 to understand ventilation dynamics. These measures are essential for compliance with radioprotection standards while preserving the integrity of these unique cultural and historical sites.Union Internationale de Spéléologiee-Spacio UNED20252025-11-0620252025-11-0120252025-11-01journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501info:eu-repo/semantics/articleapplication/pdfhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14468/30790reponame:e-spacio. Repositorio Institucional de la UNEDinstname:Universidad Nacional de Educación a DistanciaInglésengopen accesshttp://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/deed.esoai:e-spacio.uned.es:20.500.14468/307902026-06-06T12:38:31Z |
| dc.title.none.fl_str_mv |
Protocol for assessing and managing radon gas exposure risks in caves: A case study of Altamira and Paleolithic cave art of Northern Spain World Heritage Site |
| title |
Protocol for assessing and managing radon gas exposure risks in caves: A case study of Altamira and Paleolithic cave art of Northern Spain World Heritage Site |
| spellingShingle |
Protocol for assessing and managing radon gas exposure risks in caves: A case study of Altamira and Paleolithic cave art of Northern Spain World Heritage Site Sánchez Moral, Sergio 2506 Geología Radon gas UNESCO World Heritage radioprotection occupational exposure show caves |
| title_short |
Protocol for assessing and managing radon gas exposure risks in caves: A case study of Altamira and Paleolithic cave art of Northern Spain World Heritage Site |
| title_full |
Protocol for assessing and managing radon gas exposure risks in caves: A case study of Altamira and Paleolithic cave art of Northern Spain World Heritage Site |
| title_fullStr |
Protocol for assessing and managing radon gas exposure risks in caves: A case study of Altamira and Paleolithic cave art of Northern Spain World Heritage Site |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Protocol for assessing and managing radon gas exposure risks in caves: A case study of Altamira and Paleolithic cave art of Northern Spain World Heritage Site |
| title_sort |
Protocol for assessing and managing radon gas exposure risks in caves: A case study of Altamira and Paleolithic cave art of Northern Spain World Heritage Site |
| dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv |
Sánchez Moral, Sergio Lario Gómez, Javier Cuezva, Soledad Cañaveras, Juan Carlos Martín Pozas, Tamara Fernández Cortés, Angel |
| author |
Sánchez Moral, Sergio |
| author_facet |
Sánchez Moral, Sergio Lario Gómez, Javier Cuezva, Soledad Cañaveras, Juan Carlos Martín Pozas, Tamara Fernández Cortés, Angel |
| author_role |
author |
| author2 |
Lario Gómez, Javier Cuezva, Soledad Cañaveras, Juan Carlos Martín Pozas, Tamara Fernández Cortés, Angel |
| author2_role |
author author author author author |
| dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv |
e-Spacio UNED |
| dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv |
2506 Geología Radon gas UNESCO World Heritage radioprotection occupational exposure show caves |
| topic |
2506 Geología Radon gas UNESCO World Heritage radioprotection occupational exposure show caves |
| description |
Exposure to radon and its progeny poses a significant health risk for workers in tourist caves. Implementing protective measures is challenging due to increasingly strict gas concentration and dose limits in new regulations. This study evaluates the annual effective radiation doses received by workers and researchers, considering seasonal and spatial radon variability. Radon levels, temperature, and ventilation patterns were continuously monitored for at least one year in each cave. Results show significant radon fluctuations influenced by seasonal ventilation regimes driven by thermal gradients between the cave and external atmosphere. Using International Commission on Radiological Protection guidelines, the study calculates the maximum allowable working hours to comply with European and Spanish regulations, which set an annual dose limit of 20 mSv for occupational exposure. Findings emphasize the necessity of continuous radon monitoring and tailored management strategies, such as adjusting work schedules and restricting access during high-radon periods. Additionally, the study highlights the limitations of passive radon detectors, which tend to underestimate actual radon levels compared to continuous monitoring. This research provides a protocol for managing radon exposure in culturally significant caves while ensuring worker and visitor safety. The methodology includes initial spatial dosimetry, continuous monitoring, and safe working hour recommendations based on monthly radon levels. Monitoring should also consider parameters like temperature, humidity, and CO2 to understand ventilation dynamics. These measures are essential for compliance with radioprotection standards while preserving the integrity of these unique cultural and historical sites. |
| publishDate |
2025 |
| dc.date.none.fl_str_mv |
2025 2025-11-06 2025 2025-11-01 2025 2025-11-01 |
| dc.type.none.fl_str_mv |
journal article http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501 |
| dc.type.openaire.fl_str_mv |
info:eu-repo/semantics/article |
| format |
article |
| dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv |
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14468/30790 |
| url |
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14468/30790 |
| dc.language.none.fl_str_mv |
Inglés eng |
| language_invalid_str_mv |
Inglés |
| language |
eng |
| dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv |
open access http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/deed.es |
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open access http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/deed.es |
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openAccess |
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application/pdf |
| dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv |
Union Internationale de Spéléologie |
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Union Internationale de Spéléologie |
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reponame:e-spacio. Repositorio Institucional de la UNED instname:Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia |
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Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia |
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e-spacio. Repositorio Institucional de la UNED |
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e-spacio. Repositorio Institucional de la UNED |
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15.812429 |