Radioactivities related to coal mining

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Nuclear Geophysics
• Radiation Protection

Background:

• Coal mining operations can potentially alter natural radioactivity levels in the environment.
• Assessing radioactivity is crucial for understanding potential environmental and health impacts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine natural radioactivity concentrations (Radium-226, Thorium-232, Potassium-40) in coal, water, and soil samples from Gabal El-Maghara, North Sinai.
• To evaluate the impact of coal mining on radioactivity levels in the surrounding environment.
• To assess potential human health risks associated with radiation exposure in the mine environment.

Main Methods:

• Gamma-ray spectroscopy was employed to measure the activity concentrations of key radionuclides.
• Samples of coal (before and after extraction), surrounding water, and soil were collected and analyzed.
• Absorbed dose rate and effective dose equivalent were calculated for the mine environment.

Main Results:

• Initial activity concentrations in coal were measured at 18.5 ± 0.5 Bq kg⁻¹ for (226)Ra, 29.5 ± 1.2 Bq kg⁻¹ for (232)Th, and 149.0 ± 8.4 Bq kg⁻¹ for (40)K.
• Post-extraction coal showed reduced radioactivity (18-22% decrease) due to clay removal.
• Water and soil samples from the surrounding area exhibited no evidence of radioactivity enhancement from mining.
• Absorbed dose rate and effective dose equivalent in the mine were 29.4 nGy h⁻¹ and 128.0 μSv a⁻¹, respectively.
• Measured radioactivity levels in the mine and surrounding areas are comparable to other Sinai regions.

Conclusions:

• Coal mining activities at Gabal El-Maghara do not significantly enhance natural radioactivity in the local environment.
• Radiation levels within the mine and surrounding areas are within natural background ranges.
• The mining operations do not pose a significant human health risk in terms of radiation exposure.