Assessment of Radioactivity and Soil Dose Rate in Some Selected Areas of Wurno Mines-Nigeria

Abstract

Radiation hazards pose significant risks to individuals working in or residing near mining sites. This study undertakes a comprehensive assessment of radiation hazards emanating from soil in selected mining sites using gamma spectroscopy. In this research, Soil samples were obtained from various mining and residential areas, and radiometric analysis was conducted using a High-Purity Germanium (HPGe) gamma-ray spectrometer. The mean activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K were measured as 186.6±9.7 Bq/kg, 52.2±2.8 Bq/kg, and 111.7±5.9 Bq/kg, respectively. Furthermore, radiation parameters were evaluated, with the absorbed dose rate, annual effective dose, external hazard index, internal hazard index, annual gonadal dose equivalent (AGDE), and excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) yielding average values of 122±6.2 nGy/h, 0.15±0.01 mSv/y, 0.73±0.04, 1.23±0.06, 830.4±41.94 µSv/y, and 0.526×10⁻³, respectively. Many of these values exceeded recommended limits, indicating potential radiological risks to both the environment and public health. The findings of this research demonstrate the urgent need for radiation monitoring and mitigation strategies in these mining sites to protect the health and safety of the population.