Radon build-up in a prototype dwelling using uranium mill tailings as construction material

Even though the use of uranium mill tailings as a construction material is prohibitive such prototype dwellings can be constructed for developing models for the human exposure assessment. Among the potential challenges of uranium mill tailings build-up of radon ( 222 Rn) from the tailings pile and subsequent migration following dispersion is assumed significance due to the associated inhalation hazard of its progeny. Sources of such exposure are predominantly considered as the 226 Ra (parent of 222 Rn) present in the construction material and underlying geophysical characteristics. In the present investigation, a model is developed presuming the use of mill tailings as the construction material of a dwelling (prototype). The numerical model prediction for 1.14 Air Changes per Hour (ACH) reflects that the level can be approximated at 300 Bq m −3 , a reference level proposed in ICRP recommendation (ICRP 2014).