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Risk Assessment of Natural Radionuclides and Radon Gas in the Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mine of Buhemba, Tanzania

Received: 4 May 2022    Accepted: 18 May 2022    Published: 31 May 2022
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Abstract

Currently, the mining industry in Tanzania faces significant challenges including the presence of radionuclides in the working environment. In this work, different indices were applied to assess the health risk of people living and working in the study area. The radiation hazards in the studied mining areas are compared with the recommended local and international guidelines. The health risk and mitigation measures due to radioactive elements exposure to mine workers and people dwelling in the mines is established. The hyper pure germanium detector (HPGe) was used for radioactivity analysis. The radon gas levels were measured using the Alpha Guard radon monitor. The results on radioactivity; mean effective dose; annual gonadal equivalent and absorbed dose; radium equivalent; internal and external hazard indices; alpha and gamma indices; and the radon gas revealed high values in mining areas compared to the control area. However, some of the levels of radionuclides along with their hazard indices are lower than the recommended international limits. The mitigation measures which include dust suppression using water spray and the use protection gears such as masks and gloves are recommended. The present study recommends follow up and further studies in the ASGM subsector.

Published in International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy (Volume 10, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijepp.20221003.12
Page(s) 48-58
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Radionuclides, Mining Pollution, Buhemba Small Scale Gold Miners, Radiological Hazard Indices, Risk Assessment, Risk Characterization, Gamma Spectroscopy

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Erasto Focus, Msafiri Jackson, Charles Simon, Emmanuel Njale, Anna Kanyanemu, et al. (2022). Risk Assessment of Natural Radionuclides and Radon Gas in the Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mine of Buhemba, Tanzania. International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy, 10(3), 48-58. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20221003.12

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    ACS Style

    Erasto Focus; Msafiri Jackson; Charles Simon; Emmanuel Njale; Anna Kanyanemu, et al. Risk Assessment of Natural Radionuclides and Radon Gas in the Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mine of Buhemba, Tanzania. Int. J. Environ. Prot. Policy 2022, 10(3), 48-58. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepp.20221003.12

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    AMA Style

    Erasto Focus, Msafiri Jackson, Charles Simon, Emmanuel Njale, Anna Kanyanemu, et al. Risk Assessment of Natural Radionuclides and Radon Gas in the Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mine of Buhemba, Tanzania. Int J Environ Prot Policy. 2022;10(3):48-58. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepp.20221003.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijepp.20221003.12,
      author = {Erasto Focus and Msafiri Jackson and Charles Simon and Emmanuel Njale and Anna Kanyanemu and Yohana Siyajali Anatory and Makoye Mhozya and Pamela Semiono},
      title = {Risk Assessment of Natural Radionuclides and Radon Gas in the Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mine of Buhemba, Tanzania},
      journal = {International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy},
      volume = {10},
      number = {3},
      pages = {48-58},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijepp.20221003.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20221003.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijepp.20221003.12},
      abstract = {Currently, the mining industry in Tanzania faces significant challenges including the presence of radionuclides in the working environment. In this work, different indices were applied to assess the health risk of people living and working in the study area. The radiation hazards in the studied mining areas are compared with the recommended local and international guidelines. The health risk and mitigation measures due to radioactive elements exposure to mine workers and people dwelling in the mines is established. The hyper pure germanium detector (HPGe) was used for radioactivity analysis. The radon gas levels were measured using the Alpha Guard radon monitor. The results on radioactivity; mean effective dose; annual gonadal equivalent and absorbed dose; radium equivalent; internal and external hazard indices; alpha and gamma indices; and the radon gas revealed high values in mining areas compared to the control area. However, some of the levels of radionuclides along with their hazard indices are lower than the recommended international limits. The mitigation measures which include dust suppression using water spray and the use protection gears such as masks and gloves are recommended. The present study recommends follow up and further studies in the ASGM subsector.},
     year = {2022}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Risk Assessment of Natural Radionuclides and Radon Gas in the Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mine of Buhemba, Tanzania
    AU  - Erasto Focus
    AU  - Msafiri Jackson
    AU  - Charles Simon
    AU  - Emmanuel Njale
    AU  - Anna Kanyanemu
    AU  - Yohana Siyajali Anatory
    AU  - Makoye Mhozya
    AU  - Pamela Semiono
    Y1  - 2022/05/31
    PY  - 2022
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20221003.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijepp.20221003.12
    T2  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
    JF  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
    JO  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
    SP  - 48
    EP  - 58
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-7536
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20221003.12
    AB  - Currently, the mining industry in Tanzania faces significant challenges including the presence of radionuclides in the working environment. In this work, different indices were applied to assess the health risk of people living and working in the study area. The radiation hazards in the studied mining areas are compared with the recommended local and international guidelines. The health risk and mitigation measures due to radioactive elements exposure to mine workers and people dwelling in the mines is established. The hyper pure germanium detector (HPGe) was used for radioactivity analysis. The radon gas levels were measured using the Alpha Guard radon monitor. The results on radioactivity; mean effective dose; annual gonadal equivalent and absorbed dose; radium equivalent; internal and external hazard indices; alpha and gamma indices; and the radon gas revealed high values in mining areas compared to the control area. However, some of the levels of radionuclides along with their hazard indices are lower than the recommended international limits. The mitigation measures which include dust suppression using water spray and the use protection gears such as masks and gloves are recommended. The present study recommends follow up and further studies in the ASGM subsector.
    VL  - 10
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Physics, Mwalimu Nyerere University of Agriculture and Technology (MJNUAT), Mara, Tanzania

  • Department of Environmental Engineering, Mwalimu Nyerere University of Agriculture and Technology (MJNUAT), Mara, Tanzania

  • Department of Environmental Engineering, Mwalimu Nyerere University of Agriculture and Technology (MJNUAT), Mara, Tanzania

  • Department of Chemistry, Mwalimu Nyerere University of Agriculture and Technology (MJNUAT), Mara, Tanzania

  • Department of Agriculture, Mwalimu Nyerere University of Agriculture and Technology (MJNUAT), Mara, Tanzania

  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, Mwalimu Nyerere University of Agriculture and Technology (MJNUAT), Mara, Tanzania

  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, Mwalimu Nyerere University of Agriculture and Technology (MJNUAT), Mara, Tanzania

  • Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, The Open University of Tanzania (OUT), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

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