Assessment of public exposure to naturally occurring radioactive materials from mining and mineral processing activities of Tarkwa Goldmine in Ghana

作者：Faanu Augustine^*; Ephraim James H; Darko Emmanuel O

来源：Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2011, 180(1-4): 15-29.

DOI：10.1007/s10661-010-1769-9

• Goldmine
• Natural radioactivity
• Mineral processing
• Banket series
• Gamma spectroscopy
• Neutron activation

Studies have been carried out in a Goldmine in Ghana to determine the exposure of the public to naturally occurring radioactive materials from processing of gold ore. Direct gamma spectrometry and neutron activation analysis techniques were used to analyse soil, rock, water and dust samples from the mining environment. The mean activity concentrations measured for (238)U, (232)Th and (40)K in the soil/rock samples were 15.2, 26.9 and 157.1 Bq kg (-aEuro parts per thousand 1), respectively. For the water samples, the mean activity concentrations were 0.54 and 0.41 Bq l (-aEuro parts per thousand 1)) and 7.76 Bq l (-aEuro parts per thousand 1) for (226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K, respectively. The mean activity concentrations measured in the dust samples were 4.90 and 2.75 mu Bq m (-aEuro parts per thousand 3) for (238)U and (232)Th, respectively. The total annual effective dose to the public was estimated to be 0.69 mSv. The results in this study compared well with typical world average values. The results indicate an insignificant exposure of the public from the activities of the Goldmine.

• 出版日期2011-9