The radiological impact on some workers due to the natural radionuclides from some industries (original) (raw)
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Scientific Reports, 2021
The risk of natural terrestrial radioactivity on human health is often underestimated, and environmental safety awareness is necessary. Hence, this study aims to assess natural sources of gamma radiation emitter in coastal urban-environment using the radiometric technique. The dosage of gamma radiation from a parent radionuclide such as Uranium-238 (238 U), Thorium-232 (232 Th) and Potassium-40 (40 K) and were measured using portable gamma spectroscopy. The result showed that the measured value of 238 U activity was between 10.81 ± 0.69 and 46.31 ± 1.43 Bqkg −1. The mean value was estimated to be 35.44 ± 0.97 Bqkg −1 which is slightly higher than the world average. Meanwhile, 232 Th activity ranges from 28.42 ± 1.12 to 69.43 ± 1.76 Bqkg −1 with the calculated mean value of 92.57 ± 1.17 Bqkg −1 while 40 K activity ranged between 31.30 ± 1.32 and 328.65 ± 2.32 Bqkg −1 with the estimated mean 137.59 ± 2.42 Bqkg −1. Radiological parameters such as radium equivalent (R eq), internal hazard (H int) and external hazard (H ext) assessment were in the range of 66.00 Bqkg −1 to 141.76 Bqkg −1 , 0.232 to 0.452 and 0.178 to 0.383, respectively. The measured values of gamma dose-rates ranged between 54.283 ± 0.78 and 117.531 ± 1.14 nGyh −1 with the calculated mean value of 84.770 ± 0.97 nGyh −1. The natural habitat of ionising radiation was found in the eighteenth century, originating from radioactivity in groundwater, soils, rocks, and waterways, which are ecological materials 1-3. It has been ascertained that radioactivity exists in its natural form on earth. About 82 per cent of humans have been said to be exposed and absorbed these emission doses 1 ; however, this arises from the natural origin, which includes terrestrial-bodies, cosmic and exposition to these emission sources either as a result of inhaling of such 4 can be detrimental to the human system. Several decades ago, multitudes of global investigations on radiation emanating from the subsurface were carried out 1. The investigation report stated the various effects of background radiation on human health 1,5-7. Furthermore, gamma-emission, which originates from natural sources, is a result of primordial radionuclides, which are mainly Thorium-232 (232 Th) and Uranium-238 (238 U) series and their bye-decay products, and likewise, Potassium-40 (40 K), which occurs as a trace-element in the earth's subsurface. These occurring natural radionuclides are dependent on the local geology of each area in the world 4. Some quarries and springs add to the dose rate of radiation emitting from the subsurface in some regions of the earth, which are known to be high 6 .
The Global Environmental Engineers, 2016
The activity concentrations of 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K have been determined for solid, liquid and product (urea) samples collected from the Chittagong Urea Fertilizer Limited (CUFL), Chittagong, Bangladesh. A total of 15 samples of different kinds were analyzed by using a calibrated high purity germanium (HpGe) detector of relative efficiency of 38%. For solid samples, the mean activity concentrations of 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K have been found 78.67±2.87, 59.74±2.27 and 463.71±9.16 Bq/Kg, respectively. The mean activity concentrations of product samples for the corresponding radionuclide were 73.12±2.83, 74.59±2.32 and 391.58±9.38 Bq/Kg, respectively. For the case of liquid samples, the mean activity concentrations for the same nuclides were 25.09±1.71, 11.34±1.55 and 39.59±1.49 Bq/Kg, respectively. The artificial radionuclide 137 Cs was not detected in any of the samples. The mean radiological hazard parameter values of outdoor absorbed dose rate, indoor absorbed dose rate, external radiation hazard, internal radiation hazard, annual effective dose equivalent, radium equivalent activity and representative level index were 95.72±9.04, 114.32±9.11 nGyh-1 , 0.530±.05, 0.7±50.05, 113.59±11.41µSvy-1 , 199.80±17.41 and 1.390±.14 Bq/Kg respectively, in solid samples. For the product samples, the mean values of the corresponding radiological indices were 97.10+9.71, 117.56+10.32 nGyh-1 , 0.57±0.05, 0.76±0.06, 119.50 ±11.72µSvy-1 , 209.50±17.72 and 1.50±0.14 Bq/Kg, respectively. Also in the liquid samples, the mean values for the corresponding radiological parameters were 18.43±2.69, 22.13±2.77 nGy.h −1 , 0.12±0.03, 0.19±0.05, 23.59± 2.36 µSvy 1 , 43.65±3.54 and 0.32±0.03 Bq/Kg, respectively. The obtained results of this study show that for some samples the values are lower and for the remaining are higher than the World average values. The mean representative index value is less than unity which confirms that the area is safe for the factory workers and the public nearby. The results can be used as a baseline data for further researchers.
Science of The Total Environment, 2012
Absorbed dose rate (D) Annual effective dose (E) In the present work, naturally occurring radionuclides 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K were measured in soil samples from the cultivated and undisturbed areas in Rudovci, municipality of Lazarevac, Serbia. There were three profiles, each profile divided into four horizons, giving the twelve soil samples. The specific activity of 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K in soil and sediment samples was determined by gamma spectrometry using the HPGe semiconductor detector. Obtained activity concentrations ranged from 28.0 to 44.0 Bq/kg for 238 U, from 59.4 to 71.4 Bq/kg for 232 Th and from 335.0 to 517.0 Bq/kg for 40 K. The evaluation of the radiological hazards originated from 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K in the samples, the absorbed dose rate (D) and the annual effective dose rate (E), calculated in accordance with the UNSCEAR 2000 report, are presented in this paper.
Monitoring of natural radioactivity in working places
Microchemical Journal, 2000
Radioactive materials are treated and transformed mainly in nuclear industries. However, non-nuclear industries use raw materials containing significant levels of natural radionuclides; the processing of these materials can expose workers and people living near such sites to radiation levels well above the natural background. This radioactivity is due to nuclides belonging to the 238 U and 232 Th decay chains and to 40 K. Inductively coupled plasma mass Ž . spectrometry ICP-MS and gamma-ray spectrometry have been used together to determine uranium and thorium concentration and the conditions of secular equilibrium in their decay chains for samples from ceramic and phosphate-fertiliser plants. In fact, the knowledge of the secular equilibrium conditions is necessary in order to make correct assumptions for the dose assessment. The results indicate that the secular equilibrium is verified for the samples from ceramic plants, whereas a situation of disequilibrium between parents and daughters of the natural chains is detected in phosphate fertilisers. ᮊ
Occupational exposure due to naturally occurring radionuclide material in granite quarry industry
Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 2012
The potential occupational exposure in granite quarry industry due to the presence of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) has been investigated. The activity concentrations of (40)K, (226)Ra and (232)Th were determined using gamma-ray spectroscopy method. The annual effective dose of workers through different exposure pathways was determined by model calculations. The total annual effective dose varied from 21.48 to 33.69 μSv y(-1). Inhalation dose contributes the highest to the total effective dose. The results obtained were much lower than the intervention exemption levels (1.0 mSv y(-1)) given in the International Commission on Radiological Protection Publication 82.
Radiological risk from activity concentrations of natural radionuclides: Cumulative Hazard Index
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 2020
The Cumulative Hazard Index method has been proposed for the first time to determine the low and high-risk levels of radionuclides. The significant radiological parameters and risk analyses for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K pollution levels control in the soil are determined through the probability distribution functions. The activity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in samples were found to vary from of 16 ± 0.6 to 62 ± 3.2 Bq kg−1 with an average 30 ± 1.1 Bq kg−1, 24 ± 0.9 to 63 ± 1.3 Bq kg−1 with an average 37 ± 1.0 Bq kg−1 and 316 ± 5.8 to 878 ± 6.9 Bq kg−1 with an average 525 ± 6.2 Bq kg−1, respectively.
Health Risks Associated with Radionuclides in Soil Materials
2018
Radionulides in soils from natural and man-made sources constitute a direct route of exposure to humans. The most significant part of the total exposure is due to natural radiation. Soil- or rock-borne radionuclides generate a significant component of the background radiation people are exposed to. Naturally occurring radionuclides with half-lives comparable with the age of the earth and their corresponding decay products existing in terrestrial material, such as thorium (232Th), uranium (238U, 235U) and potassium (40K), are of great importance. Their spatial distribution depends on geological parent materials and plays an important role for radiation protection. Another source of exposure to natural radiation is expressed through high energy cosmic ray particles in earth’s atmosphere. Additional amounts of natural radionuclides are released into the environment through human activities such as mining and milling of mineral ores, processing and enrichment, nuclear fuel fabrications,...