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Li H, Wang Q, Zhang C, Su W, Ma Y, Zhong Q, Xiao E, Xia F, Zheng G, Xiao T. Geochemical Distribution and Environmental Risks of Radionuclides in Soils and Sediments Runoff of a Uranium Mining Area in South China. TOXICS 2024; 12:95. [PMID: 38276730 PMCID: PMC10820150 DOI: 10.3390/toxics12010095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Uranium mining activities have contributed to the distribution and uptake of radionuclides, which have increased the active concentrations of natural radionuclides in environmental media, causing elevated human health risks. The present study aims to assess the spatial distribution characteristics of natural radionuclides in the surface soils and river sediments of the typical granite uranium mining area in South China, as well as investigate the geochemical features of natural radionuclides in the soil and sediments to understand their migration processes. The activity concentrations for 238U, 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K ranged from 17-3925 Bq/kg, 50-1180 Bq/kg, 29-459 Bq/kg, and 240-1890 Bq/kg, respectively. The open-pit mining areas and tailings pond locations exhibited the highest concentrations of activity for all these radionuclides. This distribution points to an elevated potential health risk due to radiological exposure in these specific areas. Additionally, the values of radium equivalent activity (Raeq) and annual gonadal dose equivalent (AGDE) in those areas were higher than the limits recommended by ICRP (2021). 238U and 226Ra have a significant correlation (0.724), and the cluster analysis was showing a statistically meaningful cluster below 5 indicated that they have similar behavior during parent rock weathering and watershed erosion, and the distribution of 232Th and 40K were influenced by the addition of rock types. The activity ratios of 226Ra/238U, 226Ra/232Th, 238U/40K, and 226Ra/40K variation indicated that 40K more mobile than 226Ra and 238U, U(VI) was reduced to U(IV) by organic matter in the downstream area and re-entered into the sediment during the sediment surface runoff in the small watershed of the uranium ore open-pit mining area. Therefore, it is necessary to further seal up and repair the tailings landfill area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haidong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Resources and Environment, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, China; (H.L.); (F.X.)
- Research Institute No. 290, China National Nuclear Corporation, Shaoguan 512029, China;
| | - Qiugui Wang
- Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China; (E.X.); (T.X.)
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Land Surface Processes and Ecological Conservation (Ministry of Education), Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810008, China;
| | - Chunyan Zhang
- Disaster Reduction and Disaster Preparedness Center of Jiangxi, Nanchang 330036, China;
| | - Weigang Su
- Key Laboratory of Comprehensive and Highly Efficient Utilization of Salt Lake Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Environment of Salt Lakes, Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810016, China
| | - Yujun Ma
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Land Surface Processes and Ecological Conservation (Ministry of Education), Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810008, China;
| | - Qiangqiang Zhong
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China;
| | - Enzong Xiao
- Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China; (E.X.); (T.X.)
| | - Fei Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Resources and Environment, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, China; (H.L.); (F.X.)
| | - Guodong Zheng
- Research Institute No. 290, China National Nuclear Corporation, Shaoguan 512029, China;
| | - Tangfu Xiao
- Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China; (E.X.); (T.X.)
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Patni K, Pande AP, Jindal MK, Joshi T. Gamma radiation dose rate in high-altitude areas in the Bageshwar, Champawat and Pithoragarh districts of Uttarakhand, India. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2023; 45:8119-8133. [PMID: 37540337 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-023-01714-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Radiation has a deteriorating effect on humans as well as on the environment depending on its level, although we have all been exposed to natural gamma radiation from birth. The presence of radionuclides in rocks, soil, plants, and water is a major factor behind the natural gamma radiation. The present study deals with the study of natural gamma radiation at Bageshwar, Champawat and Pithoragarh districts of Uttarakhand. It also consists of seasonal variations in gamma radiation and its relationship with altitude and geology. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of altitude and geology on natural gamma radiation dose rate data in high-altitude areas of India. The highest gamma radiation value was 444 nSv/h in the summer and 342 nSv/h in the winter. The investigation recorded the gamma radiation up to 2542.20 m altitude, indicating that the geology of the areas is more relevant than the altitude. Few sites in such a high-altitude zone were found to exceed the value of 200 nSv/h, as reported by UNSCEAR. This research is necessary in order to consider the human health and climate changes, both of which are part of the action plan for the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3, SDG 13).
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiran Patni
- School of Allied Sciences, Graphic Era Hill University, Bhimtal Campus, Bhimtal, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Ashutosh Pratap Pande
- Department of Chemistry, Laxman Singh Mahar Government Post Graduate College, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Manoj Kumar Jindal
- Divecha Centre for Climate Change, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India.
| | - Tanuj Joshi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bhimtal, Kumaun University, Nainital, Uttarakhand, India
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Weng R, Tian F, Chen G, Dong S, Bai J. Study on the Radioactivity Levels of Metal Tailings in the Lhasa Area of Tibet. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:4525. [PMID: 36901534 PMCID: PMC10001911 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20054525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The main purpose of this study was to determine the natural radioactivity level of raw radionuclides in the metal tailings of a mine in Lhasa, Tibet, and to conduct sampling and detection in 17 typical metal tailing mines in Lhasa, Tibet. The specific activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in the samples were calculated. The total αβχγ radiation, radon concentration, and outdoor absorbed dose rate in the air 1.0 m above the ground were measured. The γ radiation levels affecting miners and their surrounding residents were assessed. The results show that the radiation dose ranges from 0.08 μSv/h to 0.26 μSv/h, and the radon concentration ranges from 10.8 Bq/m3 to 29.6 Bq/m3, which does not exceed the national radiation-related standards, and the environmental hazard risk is low. The specific activity concentration of 226Ra ranged from 8.91 Bq/kg to 94.61 Bq/kg, the specific activity concentration of 232Th ranged from 2.90 Bq/kg to 89.62 Bq/kg, and the specific activity concentration of 40K was less than MDA to 762.89 Bq/kg. The average absorbed dose rate (DO) of the 17 mining areas was 39.82 nGy/h, the average annual effective dose rate (EO) was 0.057 mSv/y. The average external risk index of the 17 mining areas was 0.24, the average internal risk index was 0.34, and the average γ index was 0.31, all of which were less than the maximum permissible limit. This means that the metal tailings from all 17 mining areas were within the limit for γ radiation and, therefore, can be used in bulk as major building materials without posing a significant radiation threat to the residents of the study area.
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