A Radiological Survey in Tailings: A Case Study of Rosterman Gold Mine, Western Kenya

Wanyama, Conrad Khisa; Makokha, John Wanjala; Masinde, Fred Wekesa

doi:10.4236/oalib.1106293

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Sites in Nyanza were found to have slightly higher cpm than those in the western region. This agrees with findings reported by Wanyama et al, (2020) and Buyela et al, (2017) on tailing waste from gold mining sites and agricultural activities, respectively. The variation of natural radioactivity levels at different sampling sites was due to the variation of concentrations of radionuclides in the geological formations in quarries (depth) (Kinyua et al, 2011), which agrees with the findings in table 2.…”

Section: Figure 2: Occupational Radiation Activities At Gold Artisana...supporting

confidence: 93%

“…From the results in table 4, there was no significant difference in occupational ionizing radiation exposure to organs (eye, skin, and body) between the two mining sites (i.e., the Western region and the Nyanza region). These results agree with those of Wanyama et al (2020) that the tailing samples recorded doses and radiological indices below the world average permissible values. This implies that the radiation exposure to the miners and general public due to tailing wastes at Rosterman gold mine poses no significant health risk.…”

Section: Figure 2: Occupational Radiation Activities At Gold Artisana...supporting

confidence: 92%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Occupational exposure risk to radiation in open cast artisanal and small-scale gold mining in Western Kenya

Buyela¹,

Njogu²,

Kikuvi³

et al. 2022

jagst

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASSGM) is practiced at open-cast gold mines in Western Kenya. Mining is still going on in deep mines, with huge tailings littering the workplace for most miners. This mining exercise brings to the surface myriad radioactive materials from the earth’s crust, which pose physical and radiation hazards to miners. The aim of this study was to determine occupational exposure to radiation at artisanal gold mining sites. Four sites were studied for a period of six months. Environmental radiation exposure levels were measured using the Geiger Mueller tube (GMT) model; PHYWE, whereas thermoluminescent dosimeter badges (TLB) 802A were used to record personal radiation exposure levels. d-Orbital Limited Company provided UD-716AGL, used to read the radiation levels from the TLB. Exposure levels were reported in terms of monthly skin, eye, and body exposures. Results revealed an increase in counts per minute with an increase in depth in a range of 19.83 ± 3.87 to 27.83 ± 2.10 and a mean of 23.62 ± 5.17 cpm. Personal effective radiation exposure doses for the skin, eye and body were 0.19 ± 0.01, 0.19 ± 0.01 and 0.18 ± 0.015 for two sites in Western Kenya, whereas those in Nyanza had 0.27 ± 0.01, 0.27 ± 0.01 and 0.25 ± 0.05 mSv on skin, eye and body. The maximum dose threshold limit was estimated at 1.67 mSv per month. There was no significant difference in the radiation exposure of the eye, skin, and body between the sites as indicated by χ2 = 2.0 and p = 0.157 (at p<0.05) with df = 1. The study revealed that workers are exposed to ionising radiation, but the measured levels were within safe limits.

show abstract

Section: Figure 2: Occupational Radiation Activities At Gold Artisana...supporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Figure 2: Occupational Radiation Activities At Gold Artisana...supporting

confidence: 92%

Occupational exposure risk to radiation in open cast artisanal and small-scale gold mining in Western Kenya

Buyela¹,

Njogu²,

Kikuvi³

et al. 2022

jagst

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The decay series/chain of 238 U and 232 Th. Potassium-40 adds to the external and internal radiation exposure for residents of rock-built homes where gamma radiation is emitted from walls, ceilings and floors when radon, thorium and progeny are ingested [6]. Ionizing radiations are emitted when an unstable nucleus decays to be stable [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radiological hazard levels of construction rocks excavated from quarries in Kericho county, Kenya

Betty

Masinde

Rotich

et al. 2022

ITEGAM

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The study determined the natural activity concentration levels of 40 K, 232 Th and 238 U in rocks used for construction from the 15 selected quarries in Kericho County, Kenya through Gamma-ray Spectrometric analysis at the Physical Sciences department of South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU). IAEA procedures were followed from sample collection, preparation and measurement. Samples were collected, crushed, oven dried at 105℃, weighed and packed in sealed containers and kept for four weeks in order for secular equilibrium to be achieved between 226 Ra and 232 Th. The average activity concentration of 232 Th, 238 U and 40 K were 101 ± 5 Bq/kg, 56 ± 3 Bq/kg and 1100 ± 55 Bq/kg and ranged from 41 ± 2 to 138 ± 7 Bq/kg, 26 ± 1 to 116 ± 6 Bq/kg and 512 ± 26 to 1919 Bq/kg ± 96 Bq/kg respectively. The average external and internal hazard indices were 0.8 mSv/y and 0.9 mSv/y respectively. Radium equivalent ranged from 222 ± 11 Bq/kg to 366 ± 18 Bq/kg with an average value of 285 ± 14 Bq/kg which was below the permissible limit of 370 Bq/kg; therefore, the excavated rocks for construction from the selected quarries in Kericho county poses insignificant health risk to the general population and quarry workers.

show abstract

High Environmental Radioactivity in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The radioactivity associated with artisanal and small-scale gold mining activities (ASM) carried out along the Ulindi River, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, was evaluated by gamma-ray spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry of soil and sediment samples. The results revealed that activity concentrations of 238U (up to 3127 ± 98 Bq kg−1), 226Ra (up to 2710 ± 89 Bq kg−1) and 232Th (up to 2142 ± 162 Bq kg−1) were 71- to 89-fold higher than the worldwide average concentrations reported by UNSCEAR in soils. Primordial radionuclides are, thus, present in high concentrations in deposits of gold in that region and the average ambient effective radiation dose rate was determined at 8.4 mSv y−1 (range 0.5 to 40 mSv y−1). This area may be classified as a natural high background radiation area (HBRA). The radiation risk for artisanal miners and population members manipulating those geological materials were assessed through radiological parameters. such as the radium equivalent activity index (RaEq), outdoor gamma absorbed dose rate (ODRA), annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE), and excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR). The mean values of these parameters were significantly elevated in comparison to the world average levels and indicated the existence of significant radiation risks for gold miners and members of the local population. A radiation safety policy seems needed to protect workers and the local population in this region.

show abstract

A Radiological Survey in Tailings: A Case Study of Rosterman Gold Mine, Western Kenya

Cited by 3 publications

References 0 publications

Occupational exposure risk to radiation in open cast artisanal and small-scale gold mining in Western Kenya

Occupational exposure risk to radiation in open cast artisanal and small-scale gold mining in Western Kenya

Radiological hazard levels of construction rocks excavated from quarries in Kericho county, Kenya

High Environmental Radioactivity in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About