Natural radioactivity level and evaluation of radiological hazard in the soil around a gold mining area in the North Region of Burkina Faso
Loading...
Date
2022
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Journal of Global Environmental Issues
Abstract
The activity concentrations of natural radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in soil samples from the North Region of Burkina Faso around the mining
site of Kalsaka were measured by gamma spectrometry using high purity
germanium detector. Radiological hazard assessment due to such natural
radioactivity was also investigated. The average activity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were found to be 26.06 ± 1.50 Bq.kg-1, 33.27 ± 1.97 Bq.kg-1, and
133.11 ± 13.69 Bq.kg-1, respectively. The average absorbed dose was
0.038 µGy/h, whereas the annual committed effective dose was 0.050
± 0.003 mSv.y-1. The average radium equivalent activity concentration was
83.89 Bq.kg–1. The external and internal hazard indices were 0.23 and 0.30, respectively, which are three times less than one. The activity utilisation index
was 0.6 bq/kg, with maximum of 0.79 bq/kg. The mean effective dose rate
of 0.05 ± 0.003 mSv.y-1 and the mean values of Raeq, Hex and Hin for the
studied area are below their respective permissible limits, thus indicating that
radiation hazard is not significant in this area.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
activity concentration, uranium, Burkina Faso