Utilization potential of mine tailings in geopolymers: Physicochemical and environmental aspects

It is commonly believed that radioactive pollution originates mainly from anthropogenic activities, yet studies have revealed that naturally occurring radioactive materials account for over 80% of human exposure to ionizing radiation. In particular, reports suggest that severe health risks are associated with exposure to elevated concentrations of radioactive materials such as potassium 40K, uranium 238U and 235U, and thorium 232Th. Few reviews address the occurrence, risk assessment, and potential remediation strategies of radioactive pollution in Nigerian environments. In waters, concentration as high as 2.42 ± 0.28 Bq/L has been reported in rivers, which is much higher than the radionuclide permissible level of 1 Bq/L. In soils, activity concentrations of gamma-emitting radioactive materials are higher than the worldwide average crustal values. In air, the absorbed dose rates are also often higher, of 86.44 nGy hr−1, than acceptable limits of 60 nGy hr−1. The level of radionuclides is indicative of the type and mineral composition of the parent rocks. Advances in remediation technologies suggest that electroremediation, bioremediation, and adsorption are the most efficient approaches for decontamination.

Occurrence and remediation of naturally occurring radioactive materials in Nigeria: a review

Certain types of building materials are known to be radioactive. Exposure to indoor ionizing radiation like exposure to any other type of ionizing radiation results in critical health challenges. Measurement of the background ionizing radiation profile within the Chemistry Research Laboratory and Physics Laboratory III all of the University of Jos and their immediate neighbourhood were carried out. These science laboratories also harbour a number of active radiation sources. The radiation levels were measured using gammascout (model GS2 with serial number A20). The radiation levels were: The Chemistry Research Laboratory indoor result was 2.111mSv/yr and the outdoor result was 2.081mSv/yr, Physics Laboratory III indoor result was 2.733mSv/yr and the outdoor result was 2.435mSv/yr. The health implications of the results obtained were discussed.

Measurement of indoor background ionizing radiation in some science laboratories in university of jos, jos- nigeria.

The impact of unregulated industrial tin-tailing processing in Malaysia: Past, present and way forward

Natural occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) from mining sites in Nigeria: A systematic review of geographical distribution and public health concern.

Mining of tin and other related activities have been active and thus leading to economic growth in the Jos area of Nigeria for more than a century. However, mining of minerals has been confirmed to enhance the concentrations of heavy metals and natural radioisotopes in the soil, air and water bodies in the environment. In an attempt to evaluate the radiological burdens resulting from tin mining activities at Rayfield-Du area of Jos, specific activities of naturally occurring radioactive nuclei (238U, 232Th and 40K) concentrations were evaluated in soil samples collected from the mine site. The soil samples were classified as normal soil (S), tailings (T) and mineral soils (M) and their corresponding mean activities for 238U, 232Th and 40K were analysed using an HpGe detector-based gamma spectrometric system. The mean activity concentration for 238U, 232Th and 40K were 323.44, 877.63 and 864.99 Bq/kg, 138.84, 469.31 and 578.65 Bq/kg and 168.83, 436.08 and 346.1 Bq/kg, respectively for M, T and S samples. The calculated radiation dose parameters for the soil samples were all higher than the recommended safety limit. For all the collected soil samples, the external hazard risk Hext were 2.21, 2.81 and 4.44 for S, T and M, respectively while the mean calculated radium equivalent was 819, 1057 and 1645 Bq/kg for S, T, and M, respectively. The excess lifetime cancer risk estimated for the mine was more than the world average value. The radio-ecological dose rate estimate for non-human biota in the mine revealed that all non-human species except lichen and bryophyte had absorbed dose rate less than the 10 µGy/h screening dose.

Comparative analysis of NORM concentration in mineral soils and tailings from a tin-mine in Nigeria

Mineral mining and milling can be a source of national economic and technological development. However, mining of minerals has been confirmed to disturb the natural distribution of radioisotopes in the soil, air and water bodies in the biota. In an attempt to evaluate the radiological burden resulting from tin mining activities at Rayfield-Du area of Jos, the background gamma-radiation level in the mine was measured via a well calibratedhand-held dosimeter placed at 1 m above ground level. The mean absorbed dose rate, annual effective dose rate and excess lifetime cancer risk for the mine was 0.83 μSvh-1; 1.44 mSv-1 and 0.005 respectively. Generally, dose rates were higher in the mine pits and processing areas as compared to administrative areas of the mine. The mean measured dose rate and calculated dose parameters for the mine were all high when compared to the regulatory limit for public exposure. The potential of developing radiation-induced health defects as a result of high radiation absorbed dose rate by the miners and dwellers around the mine is highly probable.  
Keywords: Gamma-radiation; mine; absorbed dose rate; radiation exposure.

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M. Atipo

Papers

Comparative analysis of NORM concentration in mineral soils and tailings from a tin-mine in Nigeria

High Terrestrial Radiation Level in an Active Tin-Mine at Jos South, Nigeria