The radioactivity measurements in soils and fertilizers using gamma spectrometry technique

Boukhenfouf, Wassila; Boucenna, A.

doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2011.01.006

Cited by 101 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…The activity concentration measured in this study was compared with those from local and other countries (Table 3) [7,26,[30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45]. The values of 226 Ra activity concentration in our study are lower than the values in similar studies in Yemen, Hungary, Yunnan, China, Turkey, Thailand, Algeria, Egypt, Pakistan, Iraq, and Jordan, while it is little higher than that of Sudan, Nigeria, and Malaysia, and within the range of India.…”

Section: Activity Concentrationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of Natural Radioactivity Levels and Evaluation of Radiation Hazards in Residential-Area Soil Near a Ras Tanura Refinery, Saudi Arbia

Alshahri

El-Taher

2018

Pol. J. Environ. Stud.

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Section: Activity Concentrationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of Natural Radioactivity Levels and Evaluation of Radiation Hazards in Residential-Area Soil Near a Ras Tanura Refinery, Saudi Arbia

Alshahri

El-Taher

2018

Pol. J. Environ. Stud.

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“…Radium equivalent can be calculated from the following equation (Beretka and Mathew 1985;Boukhenfouf and Boucenna 2011):…”

Section: Gamma Ray Spectrometermentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemical fertilizers as a source of 238U, 40K, 226Ra, 222Rn, and trace metal pollutant of the environment in Saudi Arabia

Alshahri

Alqahtani

2014

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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The specific activities of (238)U, (226)Ra, (40)K, and (222)Rn in chemical fertilizers were measured using gamma ray spectrometer and Cr-39 detector. In this study, 21 chemical fertilizers were collected from Eastern Saudi Arabian markets. The specific activities of (238)U ranged from 23 ± 0.5 to 3900 ± 195 Bq kg(-1); (226)Ra ranged from 5.60 ± 2.80 to 392 ± 18 Bq kg(-1); and (40)K ranged from 18.4 ± 3 to 16,476 ± 820 Bq kg(-1). The radon concentrations and the radon exhalation rates were found to vary from 3.20 ± 1.20 to 1532 ± 160 Bq m(-3) and from 1.60 to 774 mBq m(-2) h(-1), respectively. Radium equivalent activities (Raeq) were calculated for the analyzed samples to assess the radiation hazards arising due to the use of these chemical fertilizers in the agriculture soil. The Raeq for six local samples (nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium (NPK) and single superphosphate (SSP)) and one imported sample (Sulfate of Potash (SOP)) were greater than the acceptable value 370 Bq kg(-1). The total air absorbed doses rates in air 1 m above the ground (D) were calculated for all samples. All samples, except one imported granule sample diammonium phosphate (DAP), were higher than the estimated average global terrestrial radiation of 55 nGy h(-1). The highest annual effective dose was in triple super phosphate (TSP) fertilizers (2.1 mSv y(-1)). The results show that the local TSP, imported SOP, and local NPK (sample 13) fertilizers were unacceptable for use as fertilizers in agricultural soil. Furthermore, the toxic elements and trace metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Co, Ni, Hg, and As) were determined using atomic absorption spectrometer. The concentrations of chromium in chemical fertilizers were higher than the global values.

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“…In addition and perhaps more to the point, the elevated 40 K detected in the tissues was likely the result of the application of inorganic fertilizer, which usually contains the elements nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) and is likely to have influenced the activity concentration of 40 K in the cattle feeds and hence their organs. Enhanced radioactivity of NPK fertilizer is well documented in the literature (e.g., Pfister et al 1976;Fávaro 2005;Boukhenfouf and Boucenna 2011), and this is likely the cause of the reported findings rather than the mine tailings per se. Tin mining by-products are dumped around mining sites in heaps.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 75%

Radioecological impacts of tin mining

Aliyu

Mousseau

Ramli

et al. 2015

Ambio

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The tin mining activities in the suburbs of Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria, have resulted in technical enhancement of the natural background radiation as well as higher activity concentrations of primordial radionuclides in the topsoil of mining sites and their environs. Several studies have considered the radiological human health risks of the mining activity; however, to our knowledge no documented study has investigated the radiological impacts on biota. Hence, an attempt is made to assess potential hazards using published data from the literature and the ERICA Tool. This paper considers the effects of mining and milling on terrestrial organisms like shrubs, large mammals, small burrowing mammals, birds (duck), arthropods (earth worm), grasses, and herbs. The dose rates and risk quotients to these organisms are computed using conservative values for activity concentrations of natural radionuclides reported in Bitsichi and Bukuru mining areas. The results suggest that grasses, herbs, lichens, bryophytes and shrubs receive total dose rates that are of potential concern. The effects of dose rates to specific indicator species of interest are highlighted and discussed. We conclude that further investigation and proper regulations should be set in place in order to reduce the risk posed by the tin mining activity on biota. This paper also presents a brief overview of the impact of mineral mining on biota based on documented literature for other countries.

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The radioactivity measurements in soils and fertilizers using gamma spectrometry technique

Cited by 101 publications

References 12 publications

Investigation of Natural Radioactivity Levels and Evaluation of Radiation Hazards in Residential-Area Soil Near a Ras Tanura Refinery, Saudi Arbia

Investigation of Natural Radioactivity Levels and Evaluation of Radiation Hazards in Residential-Area Soil Near a Ras Tanura Refinery, Saudi Arbia

Chemical fertilizers as a source of 238U, 40K, 226Ra, 222Rn, and trace metal pollutant of the environment in Saudi Arabia

Radioecological impacts of tin mining

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