Determination of natural radioactivity levels and radiological hazards in environmental samples from artisanal mining sites of Anka, North-West Nigeria

Akpanowo, Mbet Amos; Umaru, Isaac John; Iyakwari, Shekwonyadu; Joshua, E. O.; Yusuf, Samson Dauda; Ekong, Godwin Bassey

doi:10.1016/j.sciaf.2020.e00561

Cited by 30 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…The primordial radionuclides comprising 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K are unequally distributed in terrestrial materials due to a lack of equilibrium between 226 Ra and its progenies. The concept of radium equivalent, Ra eq , which is a weighted sum of activities from the naturally occurring radionuclides, was introduced for use in computing activities when 370 Bq•kg −1 of radium, 259 Bq•kg −1 of thorium, and 4810 Bq•kg −1 of potassium are synchronized to produce equal amounts of gamma radiation dose rates and by extension, radiation exposure [24,35]. Ra eq allows specific activity from various primordial radionuclides in terrestrial materials to be compared.…”

Section: Assessment Of Radiation Hazard Indices Radium Equivalentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…where H in is the internal hazard index (Bq•kg −1 ). It is strongly recommended that H in should not be more than unity in safe environments [24].…”

Section: Internal Hazard Indexmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Such harms can result in severe health challenges like bone, lung, pancreatic, and hematopoietic cancers [20,21] and cell and kidney damages [22,23]. Furthermore, the population can also be exposed to naturally occurring radiation from mining operations through direct or indirect contact with the waste generated in operations and disposed of indiscriminately on farmlands and in water bodies [24] (see Figure 1). To the best of our knowledge, there has been no report of the spatial distribution and detailed investigation of the radionuclide constituents of the basement rocks in southeastern Nigeria and their probable effects on health.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessment of Natural Radionuclide Distribution Pattern and Radiological Risk from Rocks in Precambrian Oban Massif, Southeastern Nigeria

et al. 2022

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A gamma spectrometric analysis of rock samples collected from the Precambrian Oban Massif, southeastern Nigeria, was performed to determine some primordial radioelements’ activity concentrations: U-238, Th-232, and K-40, and their associated radiological hazards. The mean activity of the primordial radionuclides was determined to be 1073.06 ± 0.65, 160.74 ± 1.32, and 250.76 ± 0.91 Bq·kg−1 for 40K, 238U, and 232Th, respectively, showing that they are inhomogeneously distributed, with activity changing with the rock type and location. The activity concentrations are highest in biotite garnet schist, quartz diorite, and biotite gneiss rock domains. The mean values of the radiological hazards are 0.08 Bq·kg−1 (alpha index), 2.15 Bq·kg−1(gamma index), 2.06 Bq·kg−1(internal) and 1.63 Bq·kg−1 (external4.30 Bq·kg−1(representative level index6), 602.23 Bq·kg−1, (radium equivalent), 780 nGy·h−1 (total absorbed dose rate), 270.91 nGy·h−1 (indoor), 509.78 nGy·h−1 (outdoor), 624.99, 1329.07 and 1954.06 mSv·yr−1 (outdoor, indoor and total annual effective dose equivalent, respectively), 6448.40 (cumulative excess lifetime cancer risk) and 248.94–3761.47 Bq·kg−1 (annual gonadal dose equivalent). These results are higher than their various permissible limits (except at Ako Community) and suggest that rocks in the area may be unsuitable for constructing dwelling places. It is strongly advised that basic safety standards and precautionary measures recommended by the European Commission should be strictly adhered to while dealing with these rocks.

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Section: Assessment Of Radiation Hazard Indices Radium Equivalentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…where H in is the internal hazard index (Bq•kg −1 ). It is strongly recommended that H in should not be more than unity in safe environments [24].…”

Section: Internal Hazard Indexmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessment of Natural Radionuclide Distribution Pattern and Radiological Risk from Rocks in Precambrian Oban Massif, Southeastern Nigeria

et al. 2022

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“…Exposure to the radioactive series 238 U and 232 Th, as well as 40 K, produces external irradiation. Internal doses from radon inhalation and the aforementioned radioactive chains’ short-lived products are concentrated in respiratory tract tissues [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Uranium (U) and thorium (Th) series of natural radionuclides can be found in various levels in all terrestrial materials, depending on the geological and geographical conditions of the study area [ 4 , 5 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hazards of Radioactive Mineralization Associated with Pegmatites Used as Decorative and Building Material

et al. 2022

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The present study aimed to assess the radiological hazards associated with applying the investigated granite in the building materials and the infrastructures applications. The investigated granites are classified into four categories: El-Urf, barren, colourful and opaque. El Urf monzogranite intrudes metagabbro diorite complex with sharp contacts. Based on the activity concentrations, the environmental parameters such as absorbed dose rate (Dair), annual effective dose (AED), radium equivalent activity (Raeq), external (Hex) and internal (Hin) hazard indices were measured. The mineralized pegmatite is located in the southwestern foothill of the Gabal El Urf younger granite. It displays well-defined zonation of three zones: outer, middle and inner zones represented by potash feldspar, quartz and mica, respectively. The isorad map showed that El Urf monzogranite is barren (Up to 100 cps) surrounding an excavation of the studied pegmatite that exhibits moderate colorful mineralization (phase-I = 500–1500 cps) and anomalous opaque mineralization (phase-II = 1500–3500 cps) pegmatites. The obtained results of radionuclides activity concentrations illustrated that the Opaque granites have the highest values of 238U (561 ± 127 Bq kg−1), 232Th (4289 ± 891 Bq kg−1) and 40K (3002 ± 446 Bq kg−1) in the granites, which are higher than the recommended worldwide average. Many of the radiological hazard parameters were lesser than the international limits in the younger granites and barren pegmatites. All of these parameters were higher in the colorful and opaque mineralized pegmatites. The high activity and the elevated radiological hazard parameters in the mineralized pegmatites are revised to the presence of radioactive and radioelements bearing minerals, such as thorite, meta-autunite, kasolite, phurcalite, columbite, fergusonite, Xenotime and fluorapatite. Other instances of mineralization were also recorded as cassiterite, atacamite, galena, pyrite and iron oxide minerals. Thus, the granites with high radioactivity concentration cannot be applied in the different applications of building materials and ornamental stones.

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“…Ionizing radiation in naturally occurring radioactive elements (NORMs) makes the human body uneasy. External strategy exposure from the emitted gamma rays of terrestrial radionuclides such as 238 U, 232 Th, and 40 K and internal mechanism exposure from breathed radon gas and its daughters are the two main forms of exposure [1][2][3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk Associated with Granite Bearing Radioactive Minerals and Valuable Metals, Monqul Area, North Eastern Desert, Egypt

et al. 2022

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The present work is concerned with assessing the cancer risk contributed by the studied granite types including valuable metals, such as Cu, Au, and Ba mineralization, as well as radioactive-bearing mineralization, such as monazite and zircon, in south Monqul at Wadi Makhrag El Ebel, north Eastern Desert, Egypt. The mineralization analyses illustrated that copper mineralization containing chrysocolla and tenorite minerals were restricted to the alteration zone, especially (argillic, phyllic, and propylitic) in monzogranite. However, barite veinlets had an ENE–WSW trend, while gold mineralization was confined to quartz veins having NE–SW trends. Monazite and zircon are radioactive-bearing minerals recorded in monzogranite causing high radioactive zones in south Monqul. The radionuclide activity concentrations were detected in the studied monzogranites. The mean values of AU (103 ± 91 Bq kg−1), ATh (78 ± 19 Bq kg−1), and AK (1484 ± 334 Bq kg−1) in the monzogranite samples were higher than the recommended worldwide average. The change in radioactive-transporting minerals found inside granite faults caused the high amounts of radioactivity seen in the samples. Due to the monzogranites being applied in building materials, the radiological hazards were assessed by calculating risk indices such as annual effective dose (AED) and excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR). The acceptable limit for the ELCR readings was surpassed. As a result, the investigated monzogranite samples are not suitable for use in infrastructure materials.

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Determination of natural radioactivity levels and radiological hazards in environmental samples from artisanal mining sites of Anka, North-West Nigeria

Cited by 30 publications

References 19 publications

Assessment of Natural Radionuclide Distribution Pattern and Radiological Risk from Rocks in Precambrian Oban Massif, Southeastern Nigeria

Assessment of Natural Radionuclide Distribution Pattern and Radiological Risk from Rocks in Precambrian Oban Massif, Southeastern Nigeria

Hazards of Radioactive Mineralization Associated with Pegmatites Used as Decorative and Building Material

Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk Associated with Granite Bearing Radioactive Minerals and Valuable Metals, Monqul Area, North Eastern Desert, Egypt

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