Radioactivity of mining sites of lead, zinc and phosphate ores in Serbia (original) (raw)
International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry
This study examined the radioactivity levels of soil samples within selected solid mining sites in Nigeria using high purity germanium (HpGe) detector. Sixty soil samples in all were collected from the ten solid mineral mining sites investigated and six samples were collected as control samples from non-mining environment for analyses. The results of the activity concentration values obtained for 40 K, 226 Ra and 232 Th are 100.22 Bq kg-1 , 33.15 Bq kg-1 and 77.31 Bq kg-1 respectively. The 226 Ra and 40 K activities were found to be within the United Nation Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) acceptable permissible limit, but the 232 Th mean value was above the permissible limit of 30 Bq kg-1 for the public. In comparison, 40 K, 226 Ra and 232 Th soil samples mean activity concentrations were higher than the control soil samples values by 48.6%, 43.7% and 62.3% respectively. The results of estimated radiation hazard indices indicate average values of 150.72 Bq kg-1 , 68.40η ℎ , 83.65µSvy-1 and 454.70µSvy-1 for the Radium Equivalent (Ra), Absorbed Dose Rate (D), Dose Equivalent (AEDE) and Annual Gonadal Equivalent Dose (AGED) respectively. The mean values for External Hazard Indices (Hex, Hin), Representative Gamma index () and Excess Life Cancer Risk (ELCR) were 0.41, 0.50, 1.06 and 0.29 x10-3 respectively. The statistical analysis shows positive skewness.
Risk Assessment of Natural Radionuclide Contamination in Lead–Zinc Sulfide Ores Mining
Iranian Journal of Science and Technology Transaction A-science, 2020
Lead and zinc ores are the most important natural raw materials widely used in the industry. These types of ores contain different amounts of radionuclides that expose workers to radiation during extraction, transport, and processing. In this study, 22 samples were collected, including 18 samples of lead-zinc ore and 4 samples of mining waste. Specific activities of 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K were determined using a high-purity germanium gamma radiation detector (HPGe). The specific activities of corresponding radionuclides in lead-zinc ore samples varied in the range (\ 0.21-107.61), (1.91-48.13), and (\ 10.16-664.04) in Bq/kg, respectively. According to the European Commission's dose assessment instruction for workers, the effective dose absorption was calculated for different scenarios, as transport, outdoor storage, and internal storage, which varied from 0.76 to 10.23 lSv/y, 1.05-17.00 lSv/y, and 1.20-19.20 lSv/y, respectively. For all lead-zinc ore samples, effective doses in various scenarios were lower than the intervention level (1.0 9 10 3 lSv/y) determined by the International Commission on Radiological Protection.
ENHANCED NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY IN POLISH HARD COAL MINING INDUSTRY
The radiation risk due to the exposure to natural radionuclides, especially to short-lived radon progeny, is a component of the radiation hazard, common in the natural environment and working environment of people. The effective dose, caused by the exposure to radon (radon progeny), exceeds 50% of the average dose for a man from all sources of the ionising radiation. Under specific circumstances, for example as a result of working in confined space with low ventilation rate (cellars, underground galleries, tunnels, mines), the risk caused by radon and its progeny can be enhanced and can reach significant levels. In Polish mining industry the radiation hazard, caused by natural radionuclides is one among many other natural hazards. It is worth to be point out that besides radon another source of radiation hazard in coal mines is radium, present in underground brines. Sediments, precipitated out from such waters, have enhanced radium content and may cause the increase of external gamm...
Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences, 2015
Mining workers are exposed to radiation in the process of extracting minerals from the earth crust. In this research, activity concentration of the radionuclides in samples collected at different depths in Komu (0e220 ft) and Olode (0e30 ft) mining sites, Oyo State, Nigeria and the associated workers' radiological risks were assessed. Gemstones from these sites are mined for local and international markets. The radionuclide contents of the samples were determined using Gamma spectroscopy technique. At Komu, 238 U and 232 Th concentrations, with few exceptions, increased with depth while that of 40 K had no defined pattern. At Olode site, 238 U and 232 Th concentrations decreased with depth while that of 40 K was almost constant. Internal hazard indices at Komu in some cases indicated an unacceptable level of risk to workers. Workers' doses would have been underestimated by between 12 and 55% if the activity concentrations of samples in the pit were not included in the calculation.
Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 2013
The Kurday uranium mining site in Kazakhstan operated from 1954 to 1965 as part of the USSR nuclear weapon programme. To assess the environmental impact of radionuclides and trace elements associated with the Kurday mining site, field expeditions were performed in 2006. In addition to in situ gamma and 220 Rn dose rate measurements, sampling included at site fractionation of water as well as sampling of water, fish, sediment, soils and vegetation. The concentrations of U and associated trace metals were enriched in the Pit Lake and in the artesian water (U exceeding the WHO guideline value for drinking water), and decreased downstream from the mining area. Uranium, As, Mo and Ni were predominantly present as mobile low molecular mass species in waters, while a significant proportion of Cr, Mn and Fe were associated with colloids and particles. Due to oxidation of divalent iron in the artesian ground water upon contact with air, Fe served as scavenger for other elements, and peak concentrations of U-, Ra-isotopes, As and Mn were seen. Most radionuclides and trace elements were contained in minerals in soils and sediments, and good correlations were obtained between U and As, Cd, Mo and 226 Ra. Based on sequential extractions, a significant fraction of U, Pb and Cd could be considered mobile. Radioactive particles carrying significant amount of trace metals may represent a hazard during strong wind events. The transfer of radionuclides and metals from soils or sediments to water was in general low. The Kd levels varied with the element in question, ranging from 0.5 to 3 Â 10 2 L/kg d.w. for 238 U being relatively mobile, 10 3 for 226 Ra, As, Cd, Ni, to 10 4 L/kg d.w. for Cu, Cr and Pb being rather inert The transfer of radionuclides and metals from soils to vegetation (TF) was low, while higher if the transfer to vegetation, especially underwater mosses, occurred via water (e.g., BCF 37 L/kg w.w. for 238 U and 3 Â 10 3 L/kg w.w. for 226 Ra). The transfer of Cd, Pb and As from water to fish liver (BCF) was rather high, showing BCFs in the range of 10 2 e10 3 L/kg w.w., and may, if eaten, represent a health risk. Furthermore, the high Hg level in fish filet reaching 0.3 mg/kg w.w. muscle and the tendency of biomagnification call for dietary restrictions. Total gamma and Rn dose rate to man amounted to about 6 mSv/y, while the highest calculated dose rate for non-human species based on the ERICA Assessment Tool were obtained in aquatic plants, with calculated mean doses of 700 mGy/hr, mostly due to the U exposure. Overall, it is concluded that measures such as restricted access to the Pit Lake as well as dietary restrictions with respect to drinking water and intake of fish should be taken to reduce the environmental risk to man and biota.
Radioactivity in the environment around past radium and uranium mining sites of Portugal
Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 2007
Measurements of ambient radiation doses and determination of radionuclide concentrations in mining waste and soils were performed in 60 areas of former radium and uranium mining. In several places, mining waste and low-grade uranium ore left on the surface contain radioactivity above regional background. Most of the former mining sites present no enhanced radionuclide concentrations. However, in the mining facilities where the radioactive ore was chemically extracted, mill tailings contain materials with elevated levels of radioactivity, up to 200 times the levels in unaffected soils of the region. Mud from neutralization ponds used to treat acid mine waters contains also elevated radionuclide concentrations. Furthermore, depending on the type of waste, the radioelement composition varies. Environmental rehabilitation measures shall take these differences into account in order to prevent in the long term the radioactive contamination of agriculture soils and water resources, and to ensure adequate radiological protection to the public and to the environment.
This paper deals with industrial tailings resulting from the use of radioactive coal and bauxite for assessing the impact on the population and the environment in the western Balkan countries (WBC). It considers the direct hazard resulting from the wastes for their immediate neighbourhood and the radionuclide dispersal in the environment through surface and groundwater. The selected test sites have been investigated by different methods assessing the presence and type of radionuclides in the primary and waste products, analyzing and identifying the pathways for dispersion of radionuclides in the waste surroundings, and defining the impact of the waste on the ecosystem. The process of leachability and fractionation of the different radionuclides has been studied, too. The transport of radionuclides in groundwater has been studied by 3D groundwater flow and solute transport modelling. The following parameters have been assessed (1) gamma dose-rate levels (2) radon in soil gas (3) radon exhalation (4) indoor and outdoor radon (5) radionuclide activity in soil and in waste material (6) radionuclides in surface water and groundwater (7) radionuclides in biota. Several case studies highlight the transfer of the radionuclides to plants and animal consumption products. The radionuclide concentrations in the waste and in the surroundings range over three orders of magnitude. Radionuclide concentrations in groundwater surrounding the waste are low and have a lower variability than in the wastes. Radon concentrations on the tailings are increased with respect to the surroundings. The transfer factors in the soil-plant-animal system indicate low bioavailability of investigated radionuclides. A preliminary dose assessment shows that the highest contribution to dose is from external and radon exposure. On the basis of the results obtained by using transport model simulation and considering the high Kd values and low concentration of radium, radionuclide transport in groundwater is slow and limited to a restricted area around the tailings sites.
Radon concentration and gamma exposure in some Kosovo underground mines
Iranian Journal of Radiation Research, 2015
Background : In this study are submied the radon concentraon m easurement results of four underground mines: Stanterg, Artana, Hajvali and Badovc, which are owned by Trepca Enterprise, Kosovo. The mines have the same geological formaon and from these mines are extracted ores rich with lead, zinc, silver, and gold. The radiaon exposures caused by radon and radon daughters was determined and gamma dose measurements were also performed in the sameme. Materials and Methods : The measurement of radon concentraons in the environment of mines is carried out by CRM 510, a portable device which connuously made measurement for four consecuve days. The gamma exposure was determined using fully portable handheld instrument GR-130 Exploranium. The detector consisted of a 65 cm 3 sodium iodide NaI(Tl) and a GM tube. The system was calibrated against a 137 Cs standard and checked for stability using a low-acvity 9 kBq radioacve source. Results: The radon gas concentraon for underground mines under...
Effective dose of miners due to natural radioactivity in a manganese mine in Hungary
Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 2010
In this study, short-term radon (RnDP) and thoron (TnDP) progeny measurements and dose estimation were carried out in winter and summer. Gamma-ray dose rate originating from external sources and 222 Rn and 226 Ra contents of spring-water from a mine were also measured. During working hours RnDP and TnDP concentration values changed between 12.1-175 and 0.14-0.42 Bq m 23 , respectively. The 222 Rn and 226 Ra concentration values in the karst spring-water were ∼6 Bq dm 23 and 16 mBq dm 23 , respectively. The radiation dose resulting from the consumption of karst spring-water was negligible. The doses from the inhalation of TnDP and external gamma radiation were of the same magnitude, ∼0.1 mSv y 21 , which was rather negligible related to the estimated radiation dose of 5 mSv y 21 from RnDP.