Radiation – Standard’s Requirements

Radiation – Standard’s Requirements

Information from MSHA Booklet – SM 7 – “Radiation Hazards in Mining”

1. Ionizing radiation includes: a) infrared, b) x-rays, c) UV, d) beta, e) gamma, f) alpha, g) visible radiation.

2. Radiation causes the chemical bonds in a person’s DNA to break down. True___, False___

3. Alpha radiation: a) consists of helium ions, b) has a much lower velocity than gamma radiation, c) is stopped by ordinary clothing, d) can’t do any damage unless swallowed or ingested.

4. A shield no thicker than a thin piece of wood can stop beta radiation. True___, False ___

5. Ionizing radiation is found in all uranium mines and in some phosphate mines. True___, False ___

6. Fast-moving radiation will damage everything it encounters as it travels, including cells and tissues of the human body. True___, False ___

7. Lasers are a source of all ionizing radiation. True___, False ___

8. Radiation in underground mining can almost always be traced to the same sources – uranium and thorium. True___, False ___

9. Radon and thoron daughters are gases released in the decay of uranium and thorium. True___, False ___

10. The fraction of a radioactive substance remaining after 4 half lives is less than a) ½, b) ¼, c) 1/8, or d) 1/16.

11. Uranium will decay to ½ its initial activity level in about: a) 1 hour, b) 4.5 days, c) 12 days, d) 4.5 billion years.

12. Thorium will decay to ½ its initial activity level in about a) 1 hour, b) 14 days, c) 144 days, d) 14 billion years.

13. Exposure to radiation may cause: a) leukemia, b) defects in children.

14. Smoking increases the likelihood of lung cancer in uranium miners by: a) none, b) 50 %, c) 100 %, 4) several hundred %.

15. About a) 20, b) 40, c) 60, d) 80 percent of our exposure to radiation comes from natural sources.

16. Underground mines are required to take at least a)1, b)5, c)10, d)50, e)0 sample(s) to determine the concentration of radiation in the exhaust mine air.

17. The 0.1 working level (WL) “action level” for radon daughters in exhaust mine air is found in: a) the Federal Mine act, b) the TLVs, or c)30CFR Part 57.

18. Mine workers shall not be exposed to over a)0.1, b)0.3, c)0.5, d)1.9, e)1.0 WL per shift.

19. Which are true: a)more exposure to radiation leads to more cancer, b)welders without proper eye protection are exposed to high levels of ultraviolet radiation, c)a good filter face mask respirator will protect you from exposure to radon daughters, d)heat is a good indicator that non-ionizing radiation levels are approaching or exceeding limits, e)MSHA tests for radon in all full-time underground mines at least four times per year, f) most cancers occur within 10 years of radiation exposure.

20. Burns, eye damage and skin deformation are some of the harmful effects of radiation. True ___, False ___

Radiation – Standard’s Requirements - Answers

Information from MSHA Booklet – SM 7 – “Radiation Hazards in Mining”

21. Ionizing radiation includes: a) infrared, b) x-rays, c) UV, d) beta, e) gamma, f) alpha, g) visible radiation.

22. Radiation causes the chemical bonds in a person’s DNA to break down. True___, False___

23. Alpha radiation: a) consists of helium ions, b) has a much lower velocity than gamma radiation, c) is stopped by ordinary clothing, d) can’t do any damage unless swallowed or ingested.

24. A shield no thicker than a thin piece of wood can stop beta radiation. True___, False ___

25. Ionizing radiation is found in all uranium mines and in some phosphate mines. True___, False ___

26. Fast-moving radiation will damage everything it encounters as it travels, including cells and tissues of the human body. True___, False ___

27. Lasers are a source of all ionizing radiation. True___, False ___

28. Radiation in underground mining can almost always be traced to the same sources – uranium and thorium. True___, False ___

29. Radon and thoron daughters are gases released in the decay of uranium and thorium. True___, False ___

30. The fraction of a radioactive substance remaining after 4 half lives is less than a) ½, b) ¼, c) 1/8, or d) 1/16.

31. Uranium will decay to ½ its initial activity level in about: a) 1 hour, b) 4.5 days, c) 12 days, d) 4.5 billion years.

32. Thorium will decay to ½ its initial activity level in about a) 1 hour, b) 14 days, c) 144 days, d) 14 billion years.

33. Exposure to radiation may cause: a) leukemia, b) defects in children.

34. Smoking increases the likelihood of lung cancer in uranium miners by: a) none, b) 50 %, c) 100 %, 4) several hundred %.

35. About a) 20, b) 40, c) 60, d) 80 percent of our exposure to radiation comes from natural sources.

36. Underground mines are required to take at least a)1, b)5, c)10, d)50, e)0 sample(s) to determine the concentration of radiation in the exhaust mine air.

37. The 0.1 working level (WL) “action level” for radon daughters in exhaust mine air is found in: a) the Federal Mine act, b) the TLVs, or c)30CFR Part 57.

38. Mine workers shall not be exposed to over a)0.1, b)0.3, c)0.5, d)1.9, e)1.0 WL per shift.

39. Which are true: a)more exposure to radiation leads to more cancer, b)welders without proper eye protection are exposed to high levels of ultraviolet radiation, c)a good filter face mask respirator will protect you from exposure to radon daughters, d)heat is a good indicator that non-ionizing radiation levels are approaching or exceeding limits, e)MSHA tests for radon in all full-time underground mines at least four times per year, f) most cancers occur within 10 years of radiation exposure.

40. Burns, eye damage and skin deformation are some of the harmful effects of radiation. True ___, False ___