Assessment of natural radioactivity and gamma-ray dose in monazite rich black Sand Beach of Penang Island, Malaysia

Shuaibu, Hauwau Kulu; Khandaker, Mayeen Uddin; Alrefae, Tareq; Bradley, D.A.

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.03.026

Cited by 69 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) such as 238 U, 232 Th, 235 U, and 40 K are ubiquitous in our dwelling environments such as soil, water, underlying rock, and geological formations with varying concentrations depending on the local geology (Shuaibu et al, 2017). These radionuclides undergo spontaneous and subsequent transformation into long and short-lived progeny.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radon Concentrations in Indoor and Outdoor Environments of Atomic Energy Centre Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Concomitant Health Hazards

et al. 2022

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Realizing the non-negligible health hazards due to radon exposure, the present study was carried out to measure the radon concentrations in indoor and outdoor environments of Atomic Energy Centre Dhaka (AECD), Bangladesh. A portable electrostatic radon-measuring device (RAD7) was used to determine the indoor radon levels in different laboratories of AECD, and a RAD7 detector with a stainless steel soil probe was employed to measure the soil gas radon in the surrounding areas of the AECD campus. The indoor radon concentration in various laboratories was found to vary from 11 ± 7 Bq/m3 to 360 ± 180 Bq/m3 with an average of 63 ± 33 Bq/m3. Overall, the average indoor radon level shows below the action level (300 Bq/m3) recommended by ICRP publication-126 for homes and workplaces. However, the laboratories having poor ventilation show a relatively higher radon level. The average soil gas radon concentration at different depths of 15 cm, 35 cm, and 55 cm was found to be 0.07 ± 0.01 kBq/m3, 2.31 ± 0.31 kBq/m3, and 22.5 ± 1.4 kBq/m3, respectively. The calculated average annual effective dose due to the inhalation of indoor radon in home and workplaces was found to be below the ICRP recommended value of 10 mSv/y. The present results could serve as a reference radon level in the indoor and outdoor environment in Dhaka city, Bangladesh.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radon Concentrations in Indoor and Outdoor Environments of Atomic Energy Centre Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Concomitant Health Hazards

et al. 2022

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“…Terrestrial natural radionuclides ( 238 U, 232 Th and their progeny, and 40 K) exist in all ground formations, forming the main sources of external gamma radiation exposure to humans [1][2][3]. Extra-terrestrial sources such as cosmogenic radionuclides ( 36 Cl, 32 Si, 26 Al, 14 C,…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The presence of radioactive heavy minerals in prospecting trenches and concomitant occupational exposure

et al. 2021

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Uranium, perhaps the most strategically important component of heavy minerals, finds particular significance in the nuclear industry. In prospecting trenches, the radioactivity of 238U and 232Th provides a good signature of the presence of heavy minerals. In the work herein, the activity concentrations of several key primordial radionuclides (238U, 232Th, and 40K) were measured in prospecting trenches (each of the latter being of approximately the same geometry and physical situation). All of these are located in the Seila area of the South Eastern desert of Egypt. A recently introduced industry standard, the portable hand-held RS-230 BGO gamma-ray spectrometer (1024 channels) was employed in the study. Based on the measured data, the trenches were classified as either non-regulated (U activity less than 1000 Bq kg-1) or regulated (with 238U activity more than 1000 Bq kg-1). Several radiological hazard parameters were calculated, statistical analysis also being performed to examine correlations between the origins of the radionuclides and their influence on the calculated values. While the radioactivity and hazard parameters exceed United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) guided limits, the mean annual effective doses of 0.49 and 1.4 mSv y-1 in non-regulated and regulated trenches respectively remain well below the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recommended 20 mSv/y maximum occupational limit. This investigation reveals that the studied area contains high uranium content, suitable for extraction of U-minerals for use in the nuclear fuel cycle.

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“…The most important REE-bearing phosphate minerals like monazite and xenotime mostly occur in different magmatic and metamorphic rocks as an accessory or even rock-forming mineral and hence, be upgraded to form mineral deposits such as in some carbonatites [3,4]. The occurrence of monazite in beach sands causes radionuclide enrichment along the coast [5]. In Chavara-Neendakara area of Kerala state, India, the thoron exhalation rate was reported around 4-12 times higher than that of normal soil surfaces [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monazite chemistry and its distribution along the coast of Neendakara–Kayamkulam belt, Kerala, India

et al. 2020

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The beach sands along the coasts of India contain large reserves of strategic minerals like ilmenite, monazite, zircon, etc. Monazite mineral is primarily used as an ore for extracting rare earths particularly cerium and lanthanum. In the present study, the chemistry and distribution of monazite found in the beach sands of Neendakara-Kayamkulam belt in Kerala, south India, is studied using advanced techniques and standardized methods. Beach sediments were collected and analyzed for the texture, and mineralogy reveals that the study area contains characteristically fine sand with maximum 98.9% total heavy minerals (THM) content with ilmenite as predominant mineral species. The content of monazite ranges from 0.1 to 1.4%. A combination of unit operations like gravity separation, magnetic separation and electrostatic separation techniques were applied to the beach sand to recover monazite mineral. The data indicate that samples show a maximum yield of about 81% for THM and 0.5% for monazite. The ED-XRF, XRD and SEM-EDS analysis gives reliable results on the chemistry of monazite. The major chemical constituents of monazite mineral like Ce 2 O 3 , La 2 O 3 , P 2 O 5 corresponds to 26.658, 13.421 and 23.649%, respectively. The SEM reveals the weathering mechanism, both mechanical and chemical, occurred in monazite mineral. Advanced characterization of monazite mineral will influence positively the efficiency of determining their potential applications.

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Assessment of natural radioactivity and gamma-ray dose in monazite rich black Sand Beach of Penang Island, Malaysia

Cited by 69 publications

References 40 publications

Radon Concentrations in Indoor and Outdoor Environments of Atomic Energy Centre Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Concomitant Health Hazards

Radon Concentrations in Indoor and Outdoor Environments of Atomic Energy Centre Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Concomitant Health Hazards

The presence of radioactive heavy minerals in prospecting trenches and concomitant occupational exposure

Monazite chemistry and its distribution along the coast of Neendakara–Kayamkulam belt, Kerala, India

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