Radiological landscape of natural resources and mining: Unveiling the environmental impact of naturally occurring radioactive materials in Ghana's mining areas
This study provides a general observation of the status of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) distribution in mining and industrial areas of Ghana in order to establish regional and national data on NORMs. The study includes data on radioactivity concentrations of U-238, Th-232, and K...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Heliyon |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024009903 |
| _version_ | 1827348448497631232 |
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| author | Augustine Faanu Lordford Tettey-Larbi Esther Osei Akuo-ko Prince Kwabena Gyekye David Okoh Kpeglo Henry Lawluvi Charles Kansaana Serwaa Adjei-Kyereme Alexander Opoku Efa Edit Tóth-Bodrogi Tibor Kovács Amin Shahrokhi |
| author_facet | Augustine Faanu Lordford Tettey-Larbi Esther Osei Akuo-ko Prince Kwabena Gyekye David Okoh Kpeglo Henry Lawluvi Charles Kansaana Serwaa Adjei-Kyereme Alexander Opoku Efa Edit Tóth-Bodrogi Tibor Kovács Amin Shahrokhi |
| author_sort | Augustine Faanu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study provides a general observation of the status of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) distribution in mining and industrial areas of Ghana in order to establish regional and national data on NORMs. The study includes data on radioactivity concentrations of U-238, Th-232, and K-40 in soils and for water concentrations of Ra-226, Th-228, and K-40 from various mining, oil, and gas communities, as well as water sources used for crop farming and farmlands. The average activity concentrations of U-238, Th-232, and K-40 in the soil samples were found to be 59 ± 16 Bq/kg, 48 ± 15 Bq/kg, and 286 ± 57 Bq/kg, respectively. The average concentration of Ra-226, Th-228, and K-40 in the water samples were found to be 1.62 ± 0.33 Bq/L, 2.08 ± 0.53 Bq/L, and 22.36 ± 3.44 Bq/L, respectively. The estimated average annual effective doses from external and internal exposure pathways in soil and water samples were 0.09 mSv/y and 0.54 mSv/y, respectively. The total annual effective dose resulting from both exposure pathways was calculated to be 0.63 mSv/y, which is below the 1 mSv/y dose limit recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) for controlling public radiation exposure. Based on the radiological hazard indices, the majority of the soil samples were found to be suitable as building materials as their respective indices were below the limits except for two sample locations and the sludge and scale samples. The average Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR) value of the water samples was 1.6 times greater than the recommended value of 1.16 × 10−3, presenting a relatively higher risk to the public of developing cancer. No significant regional differences in the levels of radioactive elements. The regression models demonstrate strong interrelationships between the studied elements, with high R-squared values suggesting a predictable nature of one element’s concentration based on others. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T00:11:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b0c3ead6e4034509bc9c125583cb5f64 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T00:11:24Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj.art-b0c3ead6e4034509bc9c125583cb5f642024-02-17T06:39:07ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402024-02-01103e24959Radiological landscape of natural resources and mining: Unveiling the environmental impact of naturally occurring radioactive materials in Ghana's mining areasAugustine Faanu0Lordford Tettey-Larbi1Esther Osei Akuo-ko2Prince Kwabena Gyekye3David Okoh Kpeglo4Henry Lawluvi5Charles Kansaana6Serwaa Adjei-Kyereme7Alexander Opoku Efa8Edit Tóth-Bodrogi9Tibor Kovács10Amin Shahrokhi11Radiological and Non-ionizing Installations Directorate, Nuclear Regulatory Authority, GhanaRadiological and Non-ionizing Installations Directorate, Nuclear Regulatory Authority, Ghana; Research Centre for Biochemical, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, University of Pannonia, 8200, Veszprém, HungaryResearch Centre for Biochemical, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, University of Pannonia, 8200, Veszprém, HungaryRadiological and Non-ionizing Installations Directorate, Nuclear Regulatory Authority, GhanaRadiation Protection Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, GhanaRadiological and Non-ionizing Installations Directorate, Nuclear Regulatory Authority, GhanaRadiological and Non-ionizing Installations Directorate, Nuclear Regulatory Authority, GhanaRadiological and Non-ionizing Installations Directorate, Nuclear Regulatory Authority, GhanaRadiological and Non-ionizing Installations Directorate, Nuclear Regulatory Authority, GhanaResearch Centre for Biochemical, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, University of Pannonia, 8200, Veszprém, HungaryResearch Centre for Biochemical, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, University of Pannonia, 8200, Veszprém, HungaryResearch Centre for Biochemical, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, University of Pannonia, 8200, Veszprém, Hungary; Corresponding author.This study provides a general observation of the status of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) distribution in mining and industrial areas of Ghana in order to establish regional and national data on NORMs. The study includes data on radioactivity concentrations of U-238, Th-232, and K-40 in soils and for water concentrations of Ra-226, Th-228, and K-40 from various mining, oil, and gas communities, as well as water sources used for crop farming and farmlands. The average activity concentrations of U-238, Th-232, and K-40 in the soil samples were found to be 59 ± 16 Bq/kg, 48 ± 15 Bq/kg, and 286 ± 57 Bq/kg, respectively. The average concentration of Ra-226, Th-228, and K-40 in the water samples were found to be 1.62 ± 0.33 Bq/L, 2.08 ± 0.53 Bq/L, and 22.36 ± 3.44 Bq/L, respectively. The estimated average annual effective doses from external and internal exposure pathways in soil and water samples were 0.09 mSv/y and 0.54 mSv/y, respectively. The total annual effective dose resulting from both exposure pathways was calculated to be 0.63 mSv/y, which is below the 1 mSv/y dose limit recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) for controlling public radiation exposure. Based on the radiological hazard indices, the majority of the soil samples were found to be suitable as building materials as their respective indices were below the limits except for two sample locations and the sludge and scale samples. The average Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR) value of the water samples was 1.6 times greater than the recommended value of 1.16 × 10−3, presenting a relatively higher risk to the public of developing cancer. No significant regional differences in the levels of radioactive elements. The regression models demonstrate strong interrelationships between the studied elements, with high R-squared values suggesting a predictable nature of one element’s concentration based on others.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024009903MiningGamma spectrometryStatistical analysisEnvironmental radioactivityRadiationWater |
| spellingShingle | Augustine Faanu Lordford Tettey-Larbi Esther Osei Akuo-ko Prince Kwabena Gyekye David Okoh Kpeglo Henry Lawluvi Charles Kansaana Serwaa Adjei-Kyereme Alexander Opoku Efa Edit Tóth-Bodrogi Tibor Kovács Amin Shahrokhi Radiological landscape of natural resources and mining: Unveiling the environmental impact of naturally occurring radioactive materials in Ghana's mining areas Heliyon Mining Gamma spectrometry Statistical analysis Environmental radioactivity Radiation Water |
| title | Radiological landscape of natural resources and mining: Unveiling the environmental impact of naturally occurring radioactive materials in Ghana's mining areas |
| title_full | Radiological landscape of natural resources and mining: Unveiling the environmental impact of naturally occurring radioactive materials in Ghana's mining areas |
| title_fullStr | Radiological landscape of natural resources and mining: Unveiling the environmental impact of naturally occurring radioactive materials in Ghana's mining areas |
| title_full_unstemmed | Radiological landscape of natural resources and mining: Unveiling the environmental impact of naturally occurring radioactive materials in Ghana's mining areas |
| title_short | Radiological landscape of natural resources and mining: Unveiling the environmental impact of naturally occurring radioactive materials in Ghana's mining areas |
| title_sort | radiological landscape of natural resources and mining unveiling the environmental impact of naturally occurring radioactive materials in ghana s mining areas |
| topic | Mining Gamma spectrometry Statistical analysis Environmental radioactivity Radiation Water |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024009903 |
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