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KMID : 1039220230330020115
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Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
2023 Volume.33 No. 2 p.115 ~ p.125
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Evaluation of Radon Exposure During Highway Tunnel Construction by New Austrian Tunneling Method
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Yu Ye-Ji
Kim Hyoung-Ryoul
Kang Mo-Yeol
Choi Sang-Jun
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Abstract
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Objectives: This study was conducted to measure the level of radon in the air at a highway tunnel construction site in a gneiss area using the New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM) and to evaluate exposure levels by occupation.
Methods: Radon concentrations in the air were measured using E-PERM at points 300 m, 600 m, and 900 m from the tunnel entrance during the excavation and waterproofing work inside the tunnel. In addition, radon concentrations were measured during external excavation to compare with the inside of the tunnel. Personal exposure levels for major occupations including tunnel workers, construction equipment operators, waterproofers, shotcrete workers, and safety and health managers who participated in the construction were estimated using radon concentration measured in the work process area and working hours by occupation.
Results: As a result of a total of 77 radon measurements, the geometric mean (GM) concentration was 71.1 Bq/m3, and the maximum concentration was 127.3 Bq/m3, which was below the indoor air quality criteria. Radon concentration by process decreased in the order of the tunnel excavation process (GM= Bq/m3, GSD=1.2), waterproofing process (GM=73.35 Bq/m3, GSD=1.2), and outside excavating process (GM=45.28 Bq/m3, GSD=1.2). Processes inside the tunnel were significantly higher than outside excavating processes (p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in radon concentration measured inside by distance from the tunnel entrance, but the innermost point of the tunnel, 900 m (GM=79.24 Bq/m3, GSD=1.27), measured the highest.
Conclusions: The occupation with the highest individual exposure to radon was tunnel worker (64.16 Bq/m3), followed by construction equipment driver (64.04 Bq/m3) and waterproofer (63.13 Bq/m3).
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KEYWORD
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gneiss, New Austrian Tunneling Method, radon
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