Abstract:
Anthropogenic activities have led to radiological contaminations in the human environment, posing significant health challenges. This study focused on assessing the radiological content of surface soil samples collected from Gababiyu artisanal gold mining site in Minna. Gamma spectrometric technique employing a NaI (Tl) detector was utilized to determine the specific activities of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in 40 randomly selected soil samples. Additionally, radiological hazard parameters were computed from the measured activity concentrations to evaluate the potential exposure of miners and the public to ionizing radiation.
The specific activities of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in the soil samples ranged from 10.27±2.88 to 152.60±3.80 Bq.kg-1, 32.67±1.93 to 185.90±6.06 Bq.kg-1, and 35.18±1.45 to 947.50±7.51 Bq.kg-1, respectively, with mean values of 65.06±4.20, 87.63±2.89, and 267.94±4.29 Bq.kg-1, respectively. The mean values for 226Ra and 232Th were found to be above the global averages stipulated by UNSCEAR, indicating significant concentrations of these radionuclides in the soil.
The computed average absorbed dose rate at 1 m above the ground was 94.16 nGy.h-1, resulting in a corresponding mean annual dose equivalent of 0.22 mSv.y-1 and an average excess lifetime cancer risk of 0.76×10-3. Importantly, all these values were below the safety limits set by UNSCEAR. Hence, this study concluded that artisanal gold mining activities in the investigated area pose minimal radiological risk to the population.
Radiological Impacts of Artisanal Gold Mining in Gababiyu, Minna Metropolis, Nigeria.  GET MORE, ACTUARIAL SCIENCE PROJECT TOPICS AND MATERIALS
