Health risk profile for terrestrial radionuclides in soil around artisanal gold mining area at Alsopag, Sudan

Acta Geophysica

Hajo Idriss¹  Alshfia Osman¹  Tahir Elamin Adreani¹  Isam Salih²  Abdulaziz S. Alaamer²  Nagi I. Ali²  M. Y. Abdelgalil²  M. A. AL-Rajhi³ 

[1] Al Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU);Sudan Atomic Energy Commission (SAEC);Taibah University

关键词: Radioactivity;    Soil radiation dose l;    Artisanal gold mining;    Alsopag;   

DOI  :  10.1007/s11600-018-0166-6

学科分类：地球科学(综合)

来源: Polska Akademia Nauk * Instytut Geofizyki

【 摘 要 】

This study shows the assessment of radiation hazard parameters due to terrestrial radionuclides in the soil around artisanal gold mining for addressing the issue of natural radioactivity in mining areas. Hence, the levels 238U, 232Th, 40K and 226Ra in soil (using gamma spectrometry), 222Rn in soil and 222Rn in air were determined. Radiation hazard parameters were then computed. These include absorbed dose D, annual effective dose E, radium equivalent activity Raeq, external hazard Hex, annual gonadal dose equivalent hazard index AGDE and excess lifetime cancer risk ELCR due to the inhalation of radon (222Rn) and consumption of radium (226Ra) in vegetation. Uranium (238U), thorium (232Th) and potassium (40K) averages were, respectively, 26, 36 and 685 Becquerel per kilogram (Bq kg−1). Soil radon (4671 Bq m−3) and radon in air (14.77 Bq m−3) were found to be less than worldwide data. Nevertheless, the average 40K concentration was 685 Bq kg−1. This is slightly higher than the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation average value of 412 Bq kg−1. The obtained result indicates that some of the radiation hazard parameters seem unsavory. The mean value of absorbed dose rate (62.49 nGy h−1) was slightly higher than average value of 57 nGy h−1 (~ 45% from 40K), and that of AGDE (444 μSv year−1) was higher than worldwide average reported value (300 μSv year−1). This study highlights the necessity to launch extensive nationwide radiation protection program in the mining areas for regulatory control.

【 授权许可】

Unknown