The radionuclide concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were measured in eleven different types of vegetables from nine sample locations in Peninsular Malaysia by using gamma spectrometry with high purity germanium detector. Radiological impact and cancer risk arising from the ingestion of vegetables was also determined in this study. The annual ingestion dose of vegetables from former tin mining area and non-mining area were found to be 0.64 and 0.61 µSv y−1. Corresponding cancer risk estimated for adults were 2.24 × 10−6 and 2.15 × 10−6 for former tin mining area and non-mining area, respectively. Both of them were lower than predicted value recommended at international level by ICRP, 3.5 × 10−3. The present study concludes that vegetables planted at both areas would not pose any significant radiological impact to the population, despite the higher concentration of radionuclide in soil. External hazard indices from soil in this study are less than one. Thus, the soils are suitable for use in agriculture.

Radiological impact from natural radionuclide activity concentrations in soil and vegetables at former tin mining area and non-mining area in Peninsular Malaysia

Naturally occurring radioactive material and risk assessment of tailings of polymetallic and Ra/U mines from legacy sites

Gold mining is one of the primary industry in Fiji, and it could expose the naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) that may produce health risk to the people working in mining. The present study focuses on the assessment of soil samples in the vicinity of gold mining to assess the concentration of these nuclides. The average activity concentrations of Uranium (238 U), Thorium (232 Th) and Potassium (40 K) in the soil samples from the gold mining area in Vatukoula, Fiji were computed using NaI(Tl) detector. The activity concentrations varied from 30.7 Bq kg−⁡1 and 175.73 Bq kg−⁡1 for 238 U and 40 K with the absence of 232 Th in the decommissioned site. 19.49 Bq kg−⁡1 ,  123.06 Bq kg−⁡1 and 86.86 Bq kg−⁡1 was determined for 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K of the commissioned sites respectively which is less than the world averages according to the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation report [], except for 232 Th which is expected to be higher due to the mineral composition of monazite derivatives. Our preliminary results on the activity of these radioactive nuclides demonstrate that the mining activities at Vatukoula poses no significant radionuclide hazard to the miners and the general public.

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Natural radioactivity measurement of gold mine tailings in Vatukoula, Fiji Islands

Artisanal gold mining is one of the anthropogenic activities identified by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation as potential source of exposure to naturally occurring radionuclides 40 surface soil samples collected at random from Gababiyu artisanal gold mining site in Minna Metropolis were assessed for their natural radioactivity using gamma spectrometric technique which employs NaI (Tl) gamma-ray detector Specific activities of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in the soil varied from 1027±288 to 15260±380, 3267±193 to 18590±606 and 3518±145 to 94750±751 Bq kg-1 respectively, with mean values of 6506±420, 8763±289 and 26794±429 Bq kg-1 in sequence Although 226Ra and 232Th recorded activity values slightly above world average, they are still within safety range prescribed by UNSCEAR Computed average absorbed dose rate at 1 m above ground was 9416 nGy h-1 with corresponding mean annual dose equivalent of 012 mSvy-1 Furthermore, calculated average excess lifetime cancer risk was found to be 040×10-3, which is slightly above the UNSCEAR safety limit Pearson correlation statistics identified 226Ra and 232Th as principal radionuclides responsible for the computed radiation risk variables Although the results of this investigation does not show any immediate radiological risk, continuous monitoring of the gold mining site is encouraged in order to keep the radiation effects as low as reasonably achievable

https://jntas.journals.ekb.eg/article_107745_110e5a05e5e5723573ed4fb7514bc09b.pdf

Artisanal Gold Mining Activity in Northcentral Nigeria and Its Implications: Radiological Approach

The activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K in the soil of areas surrounding the Kayelekera uranium mine were assessed. This study aims to provide a comprehensive profile of soil radioactivity distribution in the area surrounding the uranium mine to determine radiological hazards associated with mining and processing activities. Soil samples were analysed using gamma-ray spectrometry with a high-purity germanium detector. Mean specific activities of 238U, 232Th and 40K were 58.3 ± 3.7, 40.3 ± 0.3 and 590.9 ± 63.9 Bq kg-1, respectively. Results from this study have indicated changes in radioactivity levels of naturally occurring radioactive materials in the area surrounding the understudied mine, with certain areas close to the mine site showing elevated levels of 238U, highlighting the need for systematic and periodic monitoring.

Radioactivity Assessment of Surface Soil in the Vicinity of a Uranium Mine in Malawi.

The aim of this study was to determine the natural radioactivity levels of primordial radionuclides in soil mine tailings from selected mines in Southwestern Uganda. This was achieved by analyzing thirty six samples of soil mine tailings from three mining sites using NaI(Tl) gamma ray spectrometer. The specific activity concentrations of 238 U (Uranium), 232 Th (Thorium) and 40 K (Potassium-40) in the samples were computed. The specific activity concentrations varied from 35.5 to 147.0 Bq kg -1 for 238 U, 119.3 to 376.7 Bq kg -1 for 232 Th and 141.0 to 1658.5 Bq kg -1 for 40 K. The outdoor absorbed dose rates in air 1.0 m above the ground level were determined. The mean absorbed dose rates for Mashonga Gold Mine, Kikagati Tin Mine and Butare Iron Ore mine were 181.2±66.8 nGy h -1 , 167.2±43.0 nGy h -1 and 191.6±29.6 nGy h -1 respectively which are more than three times the world wide average value of 59 nGy h -1 . The mean outdoor annual effective dose rates for the three mines were 0.37±0.14 mSv y -1 , 0.34±0.09 mSv y -1 and 0.39±0.06 mSv y -1 respectively which are more than five times the world average value of 0.07 mSv y -1 . Thus the mine tailings (soil) from these areas must not be used as major building material to minimize radiological hazards. Key words: Activity concentration, Gamma index, Soil mine tailings

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Edward Jurua

Papers

Determination of Natural Radioactivity Levels due to Mine Tailings from Selected Mines in Southwestern Uganda