Investigation of Radium Contents and Radon Exhalation Rates in Soil Samples in Menge District, Ethiopia
Tadesse Abate,
Demewoz Amtatie
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 2, June 2020
Pages:
16-21
Received:
5 March 2020
Accepted:
20 March 2020
Published:
25 August 2020
Abstract: Radon has been recognized as one of the major contributor to the natural radiation and health hazards in the human dwellings, working places and mining areas. Even lung cancer is expected if it is present in enhanced levels beyond maximum permissible limit. We have studied radium contents and radon exhalation (both mass and surface) rates in Menge mining and non-mining areas of the Benishangul Gumuz region in Western Ethiopia using the sealed Can technique and LR-115 type II plastic nuclear track detectors. Fifteen soil samples were collected over the study area according to the fraction of the populations and mining and non-mining areas. It is found that the values of radium contents vary from 1.20 to 3.94 Bq.kg-1 with an average value 2.44 Bq.kg-1. It is also found that gold mining areas have had relatively higher radium contents as compared to the other samples which are collected from non-mining areas. And radon exhalation study is important for understanding the relative contribution of the material to the total radon concentration found inside the study area. The radon mass and surface exhalation rates for the studied samples had the mean values of 2.16×10-6 Bq.kg-1.d-1 and 1.14×10-4 Bq.m-2.d-1 respectively.
Abstract: Radon has been recognized as one of the major contributor to the natural radiation and health hazards in the human dwellings, working places and mining areas. Even lung cancer is expected if it is present in enhanced levels beyond maximum permissible limit. We have studied radium contents and radon exhalation (both mass and surface) rates in Menge ...
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Natural Radioactivity Concentration and Radiological Evaluation in Soil Samples Around Dangote Cement Factory Ibese, Ogun State, Nigeria
Olatunji Kehinde Olanipekun,
Bamidele Lateef
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 2, June 2020
Pages:
22-26
Received:
21 March 2020
Accepted:
10 April 2020
Published:
27 August 2020
Abstract: Background: Natural-occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) provide significant sources of human exposure to ionizing radiation but in certain cases, anthropogenic activities, like mining, have produced wastes that contain radiation above background levels in the environment, a situation that is of great concern for radiation protection. Around Dangote cement factory both mining and production have been on-going for some years, therefore there is need to evaluate the extent of the possible risk of the radionuclides to the health of the population in this study area. Measurements of radioactivity concentrations were carried out around Dangote Cement Factory Ibese. Samples of surface soil were measured using gamma-ray spectroscopy Nal (TI) scintillation detector. Results: Measurements showed that activity concentrations ranged from 18.33+ 1.91 Bqkg-1 to 29.14±4.4.2 Bqkg-1, with an average of 23.40 Bqkg-1 for (238U - 226Ra), 10.93±5.43 Bqkg-1 to 21.52±2.16 Bqkg-1 with an average of 16.50Bqkg-1 for 232Th, and 291.78±15.50 Bqkg-1 to 338.60±3.922 Bqkg-1 with an average of 314.11 Bqkg-1 for 40K. Similarly, the absorbed dose ranged from 28.63nGy/h to 38.24nGy/h with an average of 33.14nGy/h. The calculated annual effective dose ranged from 0.035mSv/y to 0.047mSv/y with an average of 0.040mSv/y. Conclusions: The average value of Radioactivity concentrations obtained for 238U, 232Th and 40K are lower than the corresponding global values reported in UNSCEAR publication. The calculated absorbed dose and annual effective dose values are also less than the recommended safe levels.
Abstract: Background: Natural-occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) provide significant sources of human exposure to ionizing radiation but in certain cases, anthropogenic activities, like mining, have produced wastes that contain radiation above background levels in the environment, a situation that is of great concern for radiation protection. Around Dan...
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