Estimation of the Annual Effective Dose Due to the Ingestion of <sup>210</sup>Pb and <sup>210</sup>Po in Crops from a Site of Coal Mining and Processing in Southwest China
The exploitation of mineral resources may cause the environmental release of radionuclides and their introduction in the human trophic chain, affecting public health in the short and long term. A case study of the environmental radiation impact from coal mining and germanium processing was carried o...
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MDPI AG
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Molecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/27/7/2112 |
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| author | Chenxiao Wang Qifan Wu Ziqiang Pan Senlin Liu Zhonggang Cao Yilin Yu |
| author_facet | Chenxiao Wang Qifan Wu Ziqiang Pan Senlin Liu Zhonggang Cao Yilin Yu |
| author_sort | Chenxiao Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The exploitation of mineral resources may cause the environmental release of radionuclides and their introduction in the human trophic chain, affecting public health in the short and long term. A case study of the environmental radiation impact from coal mining and germanium processing was carried out in southwest China. The coal mines contain germanium and uranium and have been exploited for more than 40 years. The farmlands around the site of the coal mining and germanium processing have been contaminated by the solid waste and mine water to some extent since then. Samples of crops were collected from contaminated farmlands in the research area. The research area covers a radius of 5 km, in which there are two coal mines. <sup>210</sup>Pb and <sup>210</sup>Po were analyzed as the key radionuclides during the monitoring program. The average activity concentrations of <sup>210</sup>Pb and <sup>210</sup>Po in the crops were 1.38 and 1.32 Bq/kg in cereals, 4.07 and 2.19 Bq/kg in leafy vegetables and 1.63 and 1.32 Bq/kg in root vegetables. The annual effective doses due to the ingestion of <sup>210</sup>Pb and <sup>210</sup>Po in consumed crops were estimated for adult residents living in the research area. The average annual effective dose was 0.336 mSv/a, the minimum was 0.171 mSv/a and the maximum was 0.948 mSv/a. The results show that the crops grown on contaminated farmland contained an enhanced level of radioactivity concentration. The ingestion doses of local residents in the research area were significantly higher than the average level of 0.112 mSv/a in China, and the world average level of 0.042 mSv/a through <sup>210</sup>Pb and <sup>210</sup>Po in crop intake, respectively. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:37:34Z |
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| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:37:34Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
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| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-d6120e5a15754d6a9c09ab3108135f3e2023-11-30T23:39:44ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492022-03-01277211210.3390/molecules27072112Estimation of the Annual Effective Dose Due to the Ingestion of <sup>210</sup>Pb and <sup>210</sup>Po in Crops from a Site of Coal Mining and Processing in Southwest ChinaChenxiao Wang0Qifan Wu1Ziqiang Pan2Senlin Liu3Zhonggang Cao4Yilin Yu5Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, ChinaDepartment of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, ChinaScience and Technology Commission, CNNC—China National Nuclear Corporation, Beijing 100822, ChinaScience and Technology Commission, CNNC—China National Nuclear Corporation, Beijing 100822, ChinaZhejiang Province Environmental Radiation Monitoring Center, Hangzhou 310012, ChinaYunnan Provincial Radiation Environment Supervision Station, Kunming 650034, ChinaThe exploitation of mineral resources may cause the environmental release of radionuclides and their introduction in the human trophic chain, affecting public health in the short and long term. A case study of the environmental radiation impact from coal mining and germanium processing was carried out in southwest China. The coal mines contain germanium and uranium and have been exploited for more than 40 years. The farmlands around the site of the coal mining and germanium processing have been contaminated by the solid waste and mine water to some extent since then. Samples of crops were collected from contaminated farmlands in the research area. The research area covers a radius of 5 km, in which there are two coal mines. <sup>210</sup>Pb and <sup>210</sup>Po were analyzed as the key radionuclides during the monitoring program. The average activity concentrations of <sup>210</sup>Pb and <sup>210</sup>Po in the crops were 1.38 and 1.32 Bq/kg in cereals, 4.07 and 2.19 Bq/kg in leafy vegetables and 1.63 and 1.32 Bq/kg in root vegetables. The annual effective doses due to the ingestion of <sup>210</sup>Pb and <sup>210</sup>Po in consumed crops were estimated for adult residents living in the research area. The average annual effective dose was 0.336 mSv/a, the minimum was 0.171 mSv/a and the maximum was 0.948 mSv/a. The results show that the crops grown on contaminated farmland contained an enhanced level of radioactivity concentration. The ingestion doses of local residents in the research area were significantly higher than the average level of 0.112 mSv/a in China, and the world average level of 0.042 mSv/a through <sup>210</sup>Pb and <sup>210</sup>Po in crop intake, respectively.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/27/7/2112natural radioactivityrisk assessment<sup>210</sup>Pb and <sup>210</sup>Poradiological impactpolluted mine site |
| spellingShingle | Chenxiao Wang Qifan Wu Ziqiang Pan Senlin Liu Zhonggang Cao Yilin Yu Estimation of the Annual Effective Dose Due to the Ingestion of <sup>210</sup>Pb and <sup>210</sup>Po in Crops from a Site of Coal Mining and Processing in Southwest China Molecules natural radioactivity risk assessment <sup>210</sup>Pb and <sup>210</sup>Po radiological impact polluted mine site |
| title | Estimation of the Annual Effective Dose Due to the Ingestion of <sup>210</sup>Pb and <sup>210</sup>Po in Crops from a Site of Coal Mining and Processing in Southwest China |
| title_full | Estimation of the Annual Effective Dose Due to the Ingestion of <sup>210</sup>Pb and <sup>210</sup>Po in Crops from a Site of Coal Mining and Processing in Southwest China |
| title_fullStr | Estimation of the Annual Effective Dose Due to the Ingestion of <sup>210</sup>Pb and <sup>210</sup>Po in Crops from a Site of Coal Mining and Processing in Southwest China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Estimation of the Annual Effective Dose Due to the Ingestion of <sup>210</sup>Pb and <sup>210</sup>Po in Crops from a Site of Coal Mining and Processing in Southwest China |
| title_short | Estimation of the Annual Effective Dose Due to the Ingestion of <sup>210</sup>Pb and <sup>210</sup>Po in Crops from a Site of Coal Mining and Processing in Southwest China |
| title_sort | estimation of the annual effective dose due to the ingestion of sup 210 sup pb and sup 210 sup po in crops from a site of coal mining and processing in southwest china |
| topic | natural radioactivity risk assessment <sup>210</sup>Pb and <sup>210</sup>Po radiological impact polluted mine site |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/27/7/2112 |
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