STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF RADON CONCENTRATION IN UNDERGROUND GOLDMINE

Abstract

Radon concentrations and environmental factors were collected monthly over a period of one year in 10 different levels in an underground goldmine to determine the effect of environmental factors on radon concentration. The detectors were installed in batches within four quarters. The activity concentration within the year ranges from a minimum of 2 Bqm^-3 to a maximum of 284Bqm^-3 with a mean value of 58.51Bqm^-3. A positive relationship was observed between dry bulb temperature, relative humidity and radon concentration while a negative relationship was observed between barometric pressure, air quantity, wet bulb temperature and radon concentration and all the relationship was statistically insignificant but a principal component analysis deduced Barometric Pressure, Relative Humidity and Wet Bulb Temperature as the three main factors that influences the indoor radon concentration in the underground goldmine of which the wet bulb temperature was statistically significant at the 5% level of significance.

Keywords: Radon, Environmental factors, Radon Concentration, Correlation, Principal Component Analysis

DOI: 10.7176/APTA/88-02

Publication date: March 28th 2024