Radiological landscape of natural resources and mining: Unveiling the environmental impact of naturally occurring radioactive materials in Ghana's mining areas

• DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24959
• Publication Date: 2024-01-22T17:22:11Z
• Authors: Augustine Faanu; Lordford Tettey-L...; Esther Osei Akuo-ko; Prince Kwabena Gy...; David Okoh Kpeglo; Henry Lawluvi; Charles Kansaana; Serwaa Adjei-Kyereme; Alexander Opoku Efa; Edit Tóth-Bodrogi; Tibor Kovács; Amin Shahrokhi
• Keywords: H1-99; Radiation; Science (General); Environmental radioactivity; 0211 other engineering and technologies; Water; 02 engineering and technology; Mining; Social sciences (General); Q1-390; Statistical analysis; Gamma spectrometry; Research Article

This study provides a general observation of the status naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) distribution in mining and industrial areas Ghana order to establish regional national data on NORMs. The includes radioactivity concentrations U-238, Th-232, K-40 soils for water Ra-226, Th-228, from various mining, oil, gas communities, as well sources used crop farming farmlands. average activity soil samples were found be 59 ± 16 Bq/kg, 48 15 286 57 respectively. concentration 1.62 0.33 Bq/L, 2.08 0.53 22.36 3.44 estimated annual effective doses external internal exposure pathways 0.09 mSv/y 0.54 mSv/y, total dose resulting both was calculated 0.63 which is below 1 limit recommended by International Commission Radiological Protection (ICRP) controlling public radiation exposure. Based radiological hazard indices, majority suitable building their respective indices limits except two sample locations sludge scale samples. Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR) value 1.6 times greater than 1.16 × 10