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Contamination Factor of Radioactive Trace Elements (40K, 226Ra and 232Th) due to Mining Activities in Barkin Ladi and Mangu, Plateau State, Nigeria. |
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PP: 1-12 |
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doi:10.18576/wefe/030101
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Author(s) |
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J. Waida,
U. Rilwan,
M. Jafar,
A. Alkasim,
H. Yuguda,
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Abstract |
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| Accumulation of radioactive trace elements in soils is accelerated by industrial and other human activities such as mining, smelting, cement-pollution, energy and fuel production, power transmission, traffic activities, intensive agriculture, sludge dumping and melting operations. The aim of this work is to assess the contamination factor (CF) of radioactive traces like 40K, 226Ra and 232Th. The results showed that the soil in Barkin Ladi, has total CF decreased in the order of P11 (1.037) > P10 (0.952) > P02 (0.950) > P01 and P07 (0.925) > P03 (0.906) > P06 (0.890) > P09 (0.830) > P08 (0.821) > P05 (0.799) > P04 (0.770) > P12 (0.731) with radioactive trace elements decreasing in the order of 232Th (1.064) > 40K (0.812) > 226Ra (0.758). The soil in Mangu, has total CF decreased in the order of P11 (1.203) > P01 (1.032) > P07 (1.023) > P05 (0.989) > P12 (0.931) > P08 (0.896) > P03 (0.864) > P02 (0.779) > P06 (0.752) > P04 (0.691) > P09 (0.672) > P10 (0.603) with radioactive trace elements decreasing in the order of 232Th (0.922) > 226Ra (0.878) > 40K (0.809). The water in Barkin Ladi, has total CF decreased in the order of P11 (1.006) > P02 (0.927) > P10 (0.920) > P07 (0.893) > P01 (0.885) > P03 (0.875) > P05 (0.859) > P08 (0.789) > P09 (0.778) > P05 (0.767) > P04 (0.737) > P12 (0.699) with radioactive trace elements decreasing in the order of 232Th (1.033) > 40K (0.783) > 226Ra (0.719). The water in Mangu, has total CF based on sample points decreased in the order of P11 (1.094) > P01 (1.000) > P07 (0.975) > P05 (0.926) > P08 and P12 (0.848) > P03 (0.832) > P02 (0.747) > P06 (0.678) > P04 (0.659) > P09 (0.631) > P10 (0.555) with radioactive trace elements decreasing in the order of 232Th (0.874) > 226Ra (0.826) > 40K (0.749). The edible plants in Barkin Ladi, has total CF decreased in the order of Water Leaf (0.900) > Rogo (0.880) > Kuka (0.866) > Yakuwa (0.843) > Rama (0.820) > Shuwaka (0.796) > Zogale (0.762) > Alayyahu (0.719) > Karkashi (0.711) > Ugu (0.697) > Yateya (0.664) > Kabeji (0.600) with radioactive trace elements decreasing in the order of 232Th (0.961) > 40K (0.737) > 226Ra (0.614). The edible plants in Mangu, has total CF decreased in the order of Water Leaf (1.026) > Zogale (0.930) > Yakuwa (0.906) > Alayyahu (0.856) > Karkashi (0.786) > Kabeji (0.745) > Rama (0.709) > Kuka (0.649) > Shuwaka (0.596) > Yateya (0.584) > Ugu (0.581) > Rogo (0.505) with radioactive trace elements decreasing in the order of 226Ra (0.883) > 232Th (0.797) > 40K (0.782). Based on the findings of this study, 75 % of the area under study has its contamination factor ratio “> 1” which implies higher contamination of trace element in soil, plant and water. It can therefore be concluded that the water, soil and edible plants in the study area are issue of health concern which on high consumption without regulatory control can lead to cancer effects, even though, researches of geo-accumulation index and pollution load index of the radioactive trace elements in the study areas are recommended. |
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