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Assessment of Naturally Occurring Radionuclides in Soil around Coal Mining Areas in Benue State, Nigeria |
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PP: 233-239 |
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doi:10.18576/jrna/100304
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Author(s) |
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Okpe, O. Michael,
Umaru Ibrahim,
Abdullahi A. Mundi,
Idris M. Mustapha,
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Abstract |
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| In this study, the assessment of naturally occurring radionuclides in soil around coal mining areas in Benue State, Nigeria was determined. A total of thirty-one soil samples, which comprised fifteen each from the active and abandoned mining sites and one control sample, were collected, prepared, and sent for activity concentration analysis using Sodium Iodide (NaI) crystal doped with Thallium detector at the Centre for Research and Training, Zaria, Nigeria. The detector displayed specific gamma ray lines to determine the activity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K. The raw results of activity concentration level in soil from both the active (abandoned) mining sites for 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K are 38.3273±2.605083 Bq/kg (39.15679±2.697869 Bq/kg), 31.67017±1.98358 Bq/kg (37.9024±2.899206 Bq/kg), and 59.48989±3.52307 Bq/kg (69.82478±3.94225 Bq/kg), respectively. The results obtained were used to calculate radiological health hazard indices. The mean values of radiological hazard for active (abandoned) mining sites in the study area such as absorbed dose rate (D), radium equivalent activity (Raeq), external hazard index (Hex), annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE), and excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) are 39.32 nGy/h (43.89518 nGy/h), 88.20 Bq/kg (98.73373 Bq/kg), 0.238 (0.266687), 48.22 mSv/y (53.83305 mSv/y), and 168.76 × 10⁻⁶ (188.4157x10-6), respectively. The AEDE value is excessively high, posing a significant risk to human health. Mitigation measures, such as shielding or phytoremediation, should be implemented to reduce radiation exposure and prevent long-term health risks. |
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