Comparative analysis of NORM concentration in mineral soils and tailings from a tin-mine in Nigeria
18 Aug 2020-Environmental Earth Sciences (Springer Science and Business Media LLC)-Vol. 79, Iss: 16, pp 1-17
TL;DR: In this article, the authors evaluated the radiological burdens resulting from tin mining activities at Rayfield-Du area of Nigeria, specific activities of naturally occurring radioactive nuclei (238U, 232Th and 40K) concentrations were evaluated in soil samples collected from the mine site.
Abstract: 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.
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TL;DR: In this paper, the physicochemical and environmental aspects of different types of mine tailings, as well as the technological aspects of the preparation of geopolymers (GPs) based on them are summarized.
36 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors address the occurrence, risk assessment, and potential remediation strategies of radioactive pollution in Nigerian environments, and suggest that electroremediation, bioremediation and adsorption are the most efficient approaches for decontamination.
Abstract: 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.
14 citations
01 Jan 2012
TL;DR: In this paper, 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 measured using gammascout (model GS2 with serial number A20).
Abstract: 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.
8 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , the radiological impact of tin tailing processing in Malaysia was investigated based on radiation exposure values that exceeded the regulatory limit of 1 mSv/y, and a robust set of comprehensive laws and regulations were established, functioning as the foundation of future improvement.
5 citations
TL;DR: In this article , a systematic review was aimed at assessing data on active concentration of naturally occurring radioactive materials in mining sites in Nigeria, which indicated that solid mineral mining activities have contributed to the distribution and uptake of radionuclides.
2 citations
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TL;DR: The present work has shown that the radioactivity levels of some of the materials can be reduced through the removal of fines by sieving, as the fines seem to contain a higher concentration of radioactive nuclides.
Abstract: The natural radioactivity due to the presence of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in conventional raw materials and some solid industrial wastes and by-products which are being used or have a potential for use in the building and ceramic industries in Australia has been measured by gamma-ray spectrometry. The majority of materials examined in this work showed fairly low levels of radioactivity. Some samples of red mud, phosphogypsum, zircon products and fly ash did show higher levels of radioactivity than would be acceptable on the basis of a criterion formula for gamma-ray activity suggested for use in some OECD countries. But this higher level of radioactivity should not pose an environmental health problem when these materials constitute a relatively small portion of the materials used in a normal building. The present work has also shown that the radioactivity levels of some of the materials can be reduced through the removal of fines by sieving, as the fines seem to contain a higher concentration of radioactive nuclides.
1,568 citations
Book•
01 Jan 2009
TL;DR: Annotation and interpolation of basic dosimety assumptions to other shapes and sizes of animals and plants and assessing effects in terms of derived consideration reference levels are presented.
Abstract: Guest Editorial Preface Executive Summary Glossary 1. Introduction 2. Reference Animals and Plants 3. Iteroparous, hermaphrodite, high fecundity, population number > 10000 4. Calculation of dose conversion factors for reference animals and plants 5. The effects of radiation and its relevance to Reference animals and plants 6. Assessing effects in terms of derived consideration reference levels 7. Applications and Extrapolations 8. Conclusions Annex A. Biological background to the reference animals and plants Annex B. Comparison of dosimetric methods Annex C. Dose conversion factors Annex D: radiation effects in reference animals and plants Annex E. Extrapolation and interpolation of basic dosimety assumptions to other shapes and sizes of animals and plants
360 citations
01 Jan 2002
197 citations
"Comparative analysis of NORM concen..." refers background in this paper
...The exposure of man and his environment to natural sources of ionizing radiation is a continuous process (UNSCEAR 2000)....
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... (2) (UNSCEAR 2000; Abba et al....
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... (3) (Beretka and Mathew 1985; UNSCEAR 2000; Odoh et al....
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...The disturbance in the natural distribution of NORM and ionizing radiation in the environment is one of the environmental hazards associated with mining (UNSCEAR 2000; Jibiri et al....
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...The mean values of the AEDR were all greater than the mean value of 0.07mSv/year in normal soil (UNSCEAR 2000)....
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TL;DR: Soils and food crops from a former tin mining location in a high background radiation area on the Jos-Plateau, Nigeria were collected and analyzed by gamma spectrometry to measure their contents of 40K, 238U and 232Th and Potassium-40 was found to contribute the highest activity in all the food products.
158 citations