Measurement of radioactivity concentration in soil samples around phosphate rock storage facility in Richards Bay, South Africa

A review of the occurrence of naturally occurring radioactive materials and radiological risk assessment in South African soils

According to reports, exposure to high concentrations of naturally occurring radioactive substances like Uranium-238, Thorium-232, and Potassium-40 poses serious health concerns. This review study aims to report the concentrations of radionuclides in various South African soil and their equivalent risk assessments, which have been sparingly reported. For South Africa, most radionuclide concentrations above the permissible limits of 33, 45, and 420 Bq.kg-1 for 238U, 232Th, and 40K, respectively, have been found in some soil samples taken near industrialization activities, including mining and oil exploration and production. Thus, the amount of radionuclides is a good indicator of the kind of soil, the local geology, and the mineral make-up of the parent rocks. The increases in radiation exposure to people and the environment have been reported to cause various radiological health hazards. Thus, this review study can be used as a data source to track probable radioactive contamination from soils found in South Africa.

Advances in the management of radioactive wastes and radionuclide contamination in environmental compartments: a review

Several anthropogenic activities produce radioactive materials into the environment. According to reports, exposure to high concentrations of radioactive elements such as potassium (⁴⁰K), uranium (²³⁸U and ²³⁵U), and thorium (²³²Th) poses serious health concerns. The scarcity of reviews addressing the occurrence/sources, distribution, and remedial solutions of radioactive contamination in the ecosystems has fueled data collection for this bibliometric survey. In rivers and potable water, reports show that several parts of Europe and Asia have recorded radionuclide concentrations much higher than the permissible level of 1 Bq/L. According to various investigations, activity concentrations of gamma-emitting radioactive elements discovered in soils are higher than the global average crustal values, especially around mining activities. Adsorption technique is the most prevalent remedial method for decontaminating radiochemically polluted sites. However, there is a need to investigate integrated approaches/combination techniques. Although complete radionuclide decontamination utilizing the various technologies is feasible, future research should focus on cost-effectiveness, waste minimization, sustainability, and rapid radionuclide decontamination. Radioactive materials can be harnessed as fuel for nuclear power generation to meet worldwide energy demand. However, proper infrastructure must be put in place to prevent catastrophic disasters.

Investigation of radioactivity level in drinking water resources and soil samples collected from the Hawraman villages, Iraq

In the present study, the RAD7 and NaI(Tl) techniques were utilized to determine the radon concentrations in drinking water resources and the natural primordial radionuclides in soil samples collected from Hawraman villages. The measured radon concentrations ranged from 1.7 ± 0.6 to 34.0 ± 2.8 Bq L^-1 with an arithmetic mean of 14.8 ± 1.2 Bq L^-1. This research demonstrates that roughly 54% of drinking water samples exceed the EPA-recommended level of 11.1 Bq L^-1. For adults, children, and infants, the total annual effective doses for the three types (D_ing, D_inh, and D_di) vary from 7.6 to 149.2 μSv y^-1 with an average of 65.0 μSv y^-1, 8.1-160.0 μSv y^-1 with an average of 69.7 μSv y^-1, and 10.5-207.0 μSv y^-1 with an average of 90.2 μSv y^-1.18.2%, 22.7%, and 36.4%, respectively, of the annual effective dose for adults, children, and infants exceeds the 100 μSv y^-1 level recommended by WHO and UNCEAR 2000. The activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴ K in soil samples varied from 10.9 ± 0.1 to 32.6 ± 0.2 Bq kg^-1, 18.3 ± 0.4 to 52.1 ± 0.6 Bq kg^-1, and 252.7 ± 2.5 to 585.6 ± 3.7 Bq kg^-1. The arithmetic mean concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴ K were determined to be 19.4 ± 0.2 Bq kg^-1, 36.2 ± 0.5 Bq kg^-1and 426.6 ± 3.2 Bq kg^-1, respectively. This research reveals that the average soil activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴ K are within the global average limits of 32, 45, and 420 Bq kg^-1, respectively. Comparing the concentrations to global averages, some soil samples revealed significant amounts of radionuclides, with around 18% of ²³²Th and 41% of ⁴ K. The computed radiological hazard indices of 100% of Ra_eq., 82% of D_out, 82% of E_out, and 95.5% of ELCR_out are all below the internationally recommended levels declared by Unscear 2000.

Radioactivity and health risk assessments in cement samples commonly used as construction materials in the case of South Gondar Zone, Ethiopia

This work deals with the measurement of the radioactivity concentrations from different cement samples collected from the South Gondar Zone, Ethiopia. The measurement of naturally occurring radioisotopes and radiation health impact indices caused by these nuclides in cement samples are indisputable in the dwellings. Specifically, the average concentrations for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were estimated as 76.53, 81.67, and 407 Bq kg−1, respectively. It was seen that all the measured mean values were greater than the world’s limited levels. External and internal hazard indices are calculated as defined by the European Commission from the corresponding concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K nuclides. Moreover, the natural radionuclides have variety of concentrations which must be caused by the types of raw materials used in the industries for the production of cement.

The activity concentrations of radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K of soil samples in the case of Metekel Zone, Ethiopia

In this paper, we have studied the concentration levels and corresponding radiological hazard indices of natural radioactive elements such as radium-226, thorium-232, and potassium-40 in soil samples collected from Metekel Zone, Ethiopia. We have determined the concentration levels with the help of gamma ray spectrometry. Accordingly, we obtained the average values for radioactive concentrations of radium, thorium, and potassium to be 64 Bq/kg, 70 Bq/kg, and 330 Bq/kg, respectively. The radiological hazard has been also determined from the pertinent concentration levels of radium, thorium and potassium isotopes. Therefore, we obtained that the radioisotopes have heterogeneous distribution which must be caused by the nature and types of the soil in the area where this investigation was conducted for.

Assessment of radiation hazard indices due to natural radioactivity in soil samples from Orlu, Imo State, Nigeria

The use of a Radiation Alert Inspector device and a gamma-spectrometry system fitted with a Sodium Iodide (NaI) detector was used to determine the radioactivity concentration level of natural radionuclides ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K in soil in several locations in Orlu, Imo State, Nigeria. 19 soil samples were collected for analysis from several locations of factories, agricultural farming-lands, gullies and water eroded areas, and soil deposits very close to flowing waters from rocks, due to environmental concerns arising from human activities in this region. The activity concentration values for ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K were found to range from 0.14 to 9.34 Bq.kg⁻¹, 0.03–3.75 Bq.kg⁻¹, and 16.83–783.06 Bq.kg⁻¹, respectively, with average mean values of 4.15, 1.64, and 134.13 Bq.kg⁻¹. Radium equivalent activity, absorbed dose rate, and gamma index mean values for the samples were 16.822 Bq.kg⁻¹, 8.528 nGyh^-1, and 0.133 mSv respectively, the obtained values were below the safe limit values set by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation of 370.0 Bq.kg⁻¹, 59.0nGyh⁻¹, and 1.0 mSv. According to the findings, the regions under study are reasonably safe for human outdoor activities such as agriculture, construction, and factory operations.

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Study area is devastated by landslides & water erosion, enhancing radio-exposure.

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Aim of research is to measure Soil radionuclides; ²³⁸U, ²³²Th & ⁴⁰K, in Orlu L.G.A.

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Laboratory analysis was carried out at NIRPR, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

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The activity concentration of ⁴⁰K exceeds the values of both ²³⁸U and ²³²Th.

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Planting of bamboo trees in this regions should be encouraged.

Assessment of Levels of Natural Radioactivity in Sand Samples Collected from Ekalakala in Machakos County, Kenya

Construction sand is naturally polluted with radionuclides of terrestrial origin. In this study, specific activities of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K in 30 sand samples collected along the Ekalakala River, Machakos County, Kenya, were measured using a high-purity germanium γ-ray spectrometer. The specific activities ranged between 9.7 Bqkg⁻¹ and 24.0 Bqkg⁻¹, 11.5 Bqkg⁻¹ and 26.2 Bqkg⁻¹, and 820 Bqkg⁻¹ and 1850 Bqkg⁻¹ for ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K, respectively. While the mean specific activities for ²³⁸U and ²³²Th were less than half of the world average values of 33 Bqkg⁻¹ and 45 Bqkg⁻¹, respectively, the average specific activity of ⁴⁰K was significant since it was three times the global mean value of 420 Bqkg⁻¹. A calculated absorbed radiation dose rate for the sand varied between 46.8 nGyh⁻¹ and 94.2 nGyh⁻¹ with a mean of 68.5 ± 13.3 nGyh⁻¹. This is not significantly different from the world average dose rate of 60 nGyh⁻¹ for geological samples. The AEDR and H_ex had maximum values of 0.29 mSvy⁻¹ and 0.52, respectively, both within the recommended limits of radiation exposure for members of the general public. Based on these results, the sand from Ekalakala River does not pose significant health implication to the sand harvesters as well as the inhabitants of the houses constructed using this sand.