Contributions of Natural Radionuclides in the Domestic Water of Two Critical Gold Mining Communities in Ghana

Abstract

A study of the possible radiological impact as a result of usage of water in two critical mining communities of Dumasi and Chujah at Bogoso in the Western Region of Ghana was carried out. Water samples collected from boreholes and treated water supplied by a gold mining company were analyzed for important radionuclides such as 238 U, 234 U, 226 Ra, 210 Po, 230 Th, 232 Th and 224 Ra, using extractive techniques in the RadioAnalytical Laboratory of the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation. None of the radionuclide concentrations found exceeded the world averages in drinking water. The 238 U/ 235 U ratios were also found to fall within those for natural environmental materials. The dose contributions of the radionuclides for different age groups were evaluated using the IAEA recommended dose conversion factors. The lifetime average dose for all the communities are lower than 0.1 mSv/a as recommended by WHO; however, if age group classification is considered, infants less than 1 year old in Chujah are exposed to 0.11 mSv/a when the treated water is used.