RADIATION SITUATION IN THE TERRITORIES AFFECTED BY MINING ACTIVITIES IN STEPNOGORSK AREAS, REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN: PILOT STUDY

2020 ◽  
Vol 189 (4) ◽  
pp. 517-526 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danara Ibrayeva ◽  
Meirat Bakhtin ◽  
Yerlan Kashkinbayev ◽  
Polat Kazymbet ◽  
Kassym Zhumadilov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gold Mining ◽  
Natural Radionuclides ◽  
Mining Activities ◽  
Radiation Background ◽  
Mining Site ◽  
Dose Rates ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Naturally Occurring Radionuclides ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Republic

Abstract The Republic of Kazakhstan has a long history of mining activities, viz., gold and uranium. Mining activities represent sources of potential naturally occurring radionuclides contamination of the environment and human health of population. The aim of this study was to investigate the radiation situation of industrially modified environment in Stepnogorsk areas of Kazakhstan to understand the sources of contamination. Quite high values of ambient equivalent dose rates in air ~2.87 μSv h−1 were found in the Aqsu gold-mining site. The radon equivalent equilibrium volume activity (indoor) were in the range of 313–858 Bq m−3 in the study area buildings. The high values of activity concentration of natural radionuclides found in Aqsu soil samples were 226Ra-4060, 232Th-1170 and 40K-4080 Bq kg−1, respectively. However, our comprehensive surveys implied that the increased natural radiation background caused by the radionuclide transport from the tailing area did not have an impact, while evaluation of its potential radiation risks and remediation of the territories of the former gold mining should be needed.

Activity Concentrations of Natural Radionuclides in Soils of Rainforest Sites in Western Ghats

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 103-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. K. Manigandan ◽  
K K Natrajan
Keyword(s):  
Western Ghats ◽  
Natural Radionuclides ◽  
Gamma Dose ◽  
Radiological Protection ◽  
Dose Rates ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Gamma Dose Rates ◽  
Activity Concentrations ◽  
Naturally Occurring Radionuclides ◽  
Radiological Hazard Indices

Assessments of naturally occurring radionuclides in soil collected from a tropical rainforest forest of western Ghats, India were conducted. These radionuclides were distributed unevenly in the forest soil. For all soil samples, the terrestrial gamma dose rate and the corresponding outdoor annual effective dose equivalents were evaluated. The activity concentration of 232Th and average outdoor gamma dose rates were found to be higher than the global average which appears to affects Western Ghats environment in general, the radiological hazard indices were found to be within the International Commission on Radiological Protection recommended limits. Hence, obtained results for natural radionuclides in the forest soils were within the range specified by UNSCEAR (2000) report for virgin soils except 232Th.

scholarly journals Radon, gamma-ray exposure and natural radionuclides

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 285-287
Author(s):  
P. Wanabongse ◽  
W. Thorarit ◽  
N. Yimchalam ◽  
S. Bovornkitti
Keyword(s):  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Natural Radionuclides ◽  
Radon Exposure ◽  
Dose Rates ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Gamma Dose Rates ◽  
Activity Concentrations ◽  
Naturally Occurring Radionuclides ◽  
Exposure Levels

Abstract Measurements were conducted to determine residential radon exposure levels in provinces with high lung cancer incidence in three different regions of Thailand. The measurements revealed that the average indoor radon levels were 20.0, 24.4, and 13.1 Bq m−3, and that the average gamma dose rates were 145, 164, and 54 nSv h−1 in Chiangmai, Songkhla and Khonkaen provinces, respectively. The spectroscopic analysis of soil samples collected from the three provinces showed that the highest contents of Ra-226, Th-232, and K-40 were present in Songkhla, with values of 93.7, 71.9, and 786.9 Bq kg−1, respectively, and the lowest contents were present in Khonkaen, with values of 15.6, 19.0, and 46.8 Bq kg−1, respectively. The results of our analysis of the activity concentrations of naturally occurring radionuclides helped explain the lower levels of radon gas and gamma-ray exposure in Khonkaen.

Natural radioactivity in marine sediment of Khor- Abdulla Northern west of the Arabian Gulf

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 2340-2347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdul Subber ◽  
Munaf Qasim Jaber ◽  
Noori H.N. Al-Hashmi
Keyword(s):  
Gamma Spectroscopy ◽  
Natural Radionuclides ◽  
Arabian Gulf ◽  
Special Equipment ◽  
Sediment Samples ◽  
Dose Rates ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Naturally Occurring Radionuclides ◽  
Radium Equivalent ◽  
The Mean

This work presents measurements of natural radionuclides (238U, 226Ra, 232Th and 40K) in the sea sediment using gamma spectroscopy. The sediment samples were collected from coastal and deep water using special equipment for this purpose. This work was performed in Khor-Abdulla, northern west of the Arabian Gulf to establish the baseline data level for naturally occurring radionuclides in the study area and will be useful for tracking and assessing any accentual pollution in the marine environment in the region. The average values of 232Th, 238U,226Ra, 40K are 5.6 Bq/kg, 7.2 Bq/kg, 44.4 Bq/kg  and 293.9 Bq/kg respectively. It is found that,the mean radium equivalent Raeq and effective dose rates are  84.5 Bq/kg and 0.046 mSv/y respectively and they are well below the recommended limit of international committees.

Illustration of HLW Repository Performance: Using Alternative Yardsticks to Assess Modeled Radionuclide Fluxes

2008 ◽  
Vol 1107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaname Miyahara ◽  
Tomoko Kato
Keyword(s):  
Natural Radionuclides ◽  
Conventional Dose ◽  
Geological Processes ◽  
Groundwater Flux ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Evaluation Point ◽  
Naturally Occurring Radionuclides ◽  
Barrier Performance ◽  
Safety Case ◽  
Hlw Repository

AbstractComplementary indicators have been used in developing a safety case in order to avoid uncertainties in the biosphere modeling used to estimate conventional dose or risk. For example, radionuclide fluxes can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of barrier performance. However, it is difficult to define relevant yardsticks for comparison, because the fluxes of naturally occurring radionuclides due to geological processes vary considerably depending on time and location. This paper discusses the relevance of alternative yardsticks for assessing modeled radionuclide fluxes by selecting yardsticks calculated from fluxes of natural radionuclides at the groundwater discharge point from the geosphere to an aquifer; these are then compared with fluxes of repository-derived radionuclides at the same point. Such yardsticks avoid surface geological processes that may also contribute to natural fluxes, allowing comparison at a suitable, common evaluation point that avoids dependence on site-specific conditions. The effectiveness and robustness of barrier performance is demonstrated using the developed yardsticks and the sensitivity of the analysis to groundwater flux is illustrated.

ASSESSMENT OF NATURAL RADIONUCLIDES LEVELS IN DRINKING WATER FROM OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

2016 ◽  
Vol 78 (6-7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Usikalu M. R. ◽  
Olawole C. O. ◽  
Joel E. S.
Keyword(s):  
Water Samples ◽  
Background Radiation ◽  
Natural Radionuclides ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Radiological Protection ◽  
Ogun State ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
High Purity Germanium ◽  
Naturally Occurring Radionuclides ◽  
Effective Doses

Naturally occurring radionuclides levels of 238U, 232Th and 40K were investigated in the water samples collected at different boreholes in all the local government of Ogun State using high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector (Canberra Industries Inc.). The activity concentrations measured from the water samples ranged from 0.06 to 1.37 Bq l-1 for 238U, 0.15 to 0.52 Bq l-1 for 232Th and 1.35 to 12.74 Bq l-1 for 40K. The measured activities concentrations for 238U, 232Th and 40K along with their ingested dose conversion factors were used to estimate the annual effective doses in accordance with International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) based on age groups 0 -1y, 1 – 2y, 2 – 7y, 7 – 12y, 12 – 17y and >17y for water consumption. The total annual effective doses calculated varied from 0.004 to 0.517, 0.002 to 0.092, 0.001 to 0.078, 0.001 to 0.076, 0.024 to 0.110 and 0.002 to 0.117 for the age groups accordingly. The physiochemical results showed that 85% of the water was acidic as they have pH less than 6.5 and 65 % of them exceeded the copper concentration recommended limit. It revealed that consumption of the water is safe from natural background radiation for all groups except 0-1 y as the annual effective dose obtained for this group exceeded the average world limit (0.12). The study therefore, suggests that Ogun State populace should use less of these water samples for babies between the age 0-1 year.

Naturally Occurring Radionuclides in Soil Samples of Bureti Sub-County of Kericho County Kenya

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
C K Rotich ◽  
N O Hashim ◽  
M W Chege ◽  
C Nyambura
Keyword(s):  
Activity Concentration ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Radiation Hazard ◽  
Average Dose ◽  
The Public ◽  
Dose Rates ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Naturally Occurring Radionuclides ◽  
Average Activity

Abstract The activity concentration of soil samples of Bureti sub-county was measured using thallium-activated sodium iodide detector. To ascertain the level of radiation hazard to the public, gamma radiation dose rates were also estimated. The average activity concentration due to 40K, 226Ra and 232Th for soil samples are 1164 ± 70, 106 ± 8 and 79 ± 5 Bqkg−1, respectively. An average dose rate of 145 ± 10 nGyh−1 was recorded, which is about 2.5 times higher than the world average value of 60 nGyh−1(UNSCEAR). On the other hand, an average outdoor effective dose of 0.35 ± 0.02 mSvy−1 was measured, which is lower than the ICRP safety limit of 1 mSvy−1. This shows that the radiation hazards from naturally occurring terrestrial radionuclides in Bureti is low and therefore human radiation exposure is within the accepted limits.

Soil depth profiles and radiological assessment of natural radionuclides in forest ecosystem

2017 ◽  
Vol 105 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
P. K. Manigandan ◽  
B. Chandar Shekar
Keyword(s):  
Forest Ecosystem ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Natural Radionuclides ◽  
Radiological Assessment ◽  
Depth Profiles ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Naturally Occurring Radionuclides

AbstractWe measured the distribution of three naturally occurring radionuclides,

scholarly journals Potentially Toxic Element Contaminations and Lead Isotopic Fingerprinting in Soils and Sediments from a Historical Gold Mining Site

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (20) ◽  
pp. 10925
Author(s):  
Lei Tang ◽  
Yiyue Zhang ◽  
Shuai Ma ◽  
Changchun Yan ◽  
Huanhuan Geng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gold Mining ◽  
Mining Area ◽  
Toxic Element ◽  
Pb Isotopes ◽  
Mining Activities ◽  
Mining Site ◽  
Pb Contamination ◽  
Potentially Toxic Element ◽  
Soil Sediment ◽  
Isotopic Fingerprinting

Lead (Pb) isotopes have been widely used to identify and quantify Pb contamination in the environment. Here, the Pb isotopes, as well as the current contamination levels of Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr, Ni, Cd, As, and Hg, were investigated in soil and sediment from the historical gold mining area upstream of Miyun Reservoir, Beijing, China. The sediment had higher 206Pb/207Pb ratios (1.137 ± 0.0111) than unpolluted soil did (1.167 ± 0.0029), while the soil samples inside the mining area were much more variable (1.121 ± 0.0175). The mean concentrations (soil/sediment in mg·kg−1) of Pb (2470/42.5), Zn (181/113), Cu (199/36.7), Cr (117/68.8), Ni (40.4/28.9), Cd (0.791/0.336), As (8.52/5.10), and Hg (0.168/0.000343) characterized the soil/sediment of the studied area with mean Igeo values of the potentially toxic element (PTE) ranging from −4.71 to 9.59 for soil and from −3.39 to 2.43 for sediment. Meanwhile, principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) coupled with Pearson’s correlation coefficient among PTEs indicated that the major source of the Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd contamination was likely the mining activities. Evidence from Pb isotopic fingerprinting and a binary mixing model further confirmed that Pb contamination in soil and sediment came from mixed sources that are dominated by mining activity. These results highlight the persistence of PTE contamination in the historical mining site and the usefulness of Pb isotopes combined with multivariate statistical analysis to quantify contamination from mining activities.

Natural Radionuclides in the St. Lawrence River

1984 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 120-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Grondin ◽  
M.D. Lupien
Keyword(s):  
Sampling Method ◽  
Natural Radionuclides ◽  
Suspended Material ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Naturally Occurring Radionuclides ◽  
Solid Phases ◽  
Liquid And Solid Phases ◽  
St Lawrence River

Abstract The alum floc sampling method has proven to be a rapid and efficient means for studying radioactivity in freshwater, allowing the preconcentration of not only soluble nuclides but also those attached to the suspended material in rivers. This paper contains an assessment of the distribution of naturally occurring radionuclides between the liquid and solid phases present in the St. Lawrence River. It also describes the distribution of these natural radionuclides on the various fractions of the suspended material. A radioactivity profile observed at St. Foy, Québec, reveals the contribution of each tributary to the solid and liquid fluxes of the St. Lawrence River.

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