Radiation dosimetry in uranium mines. part I. radon dosimetry using plastic nuclear track detectors. part II. measurements of gamma-ray exposures. Final report, June 1971--December 1977

The uranium mine environment is characterized by airborne radon-222 and its daughter products to which miners are exposed through breathing and by gamma and X-rays from the uranium-235 chains to which the miners are exposed externally. The nature of the radon-daughter concentrations and the methods used to define and measure the exposures are explained through an extensive review of the literature. An improved passive track-etch dosimeter for personal use is proposed which has a measurement range of about 30 to 400 WLH with a 95% confidence interval to about 25% for individual detector measurements in relatively stable mine air. Some measurements of these dosimeters adapted to environmental use are also presented. A program of development for enhancement of dosimeter sensitivity and greater accuracy of measurement is outlined.