The potential risk from 222radon posed to archaeologists and earth scientists: Reconnaissance study of radon concentrations, excavations, and archaeological shelters in the Great Cave of Niah, Sarawak, Malaysia

Gavin Gillmore, David Gilbertson, John Grattan, Chris Hunt, Sue McLaren, Brian Pyatt, Richard Mani Banda, Graeme Barker, Antony Denman, Paul Phillips, Tim Reynolds

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This reconnaissance study of radon concentrations in the Great Cave of Niah in Sarawak shows that in relatively deep pits and trenches in surficial deposits largely covered by protective shelters with poor ventilation, excavators are working in a micro-environment in which radon concentrations at the ground surface can exceed those of the surrounding area by a factor of >×2. Although radon concentrations in this famous cave are low by world standards (alpha track-etch results ranging from 100 to 3075Bqm -3), they still may pose a health risk to both excavators (personal dosemeter readings varied from 0.368 to 0.857mSv for 60 days of work) and cave occupants (1yr exposure at 15h per day with an average radon level of 608Bqm -3 giving a dose of 26.42mSv). The data here presented also demonstrate that there is considerable local variation in radon levels in such environments as these.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)213-227
Number of pages15
JournalEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety
Volume60
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2005

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pollution
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Keywords

  • Archaeologists
  • Caves
  • Earth scientists
  • Health
  • Radon
  • Risk
  • Sarawak

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The potential risk from 222radon posed to archaeologists and earth scientists: Reconnaissance study of radon concentrations, excavations, and archaeological shelters in the Great Cave of Niah, Sarawak, Malaysia'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this