Deterministic and probabilistic radiological risks associated with gold mining activities in some villages along
Suleiman Bello1, Muyiwa Michael Orosun2,3
1Department of Physics, Umaru Musa Yar'adua University Katsina, Katsina, Nigeria.
Abstract:
Deterministic and probabilistic methods were employed to assess the radiological risks associated with gold mining activities to both workers and the public in selected villages along the Jibia Niger-Nigeria border. In this study, a high-purity germanium detector was used to measure the specific activities of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs). The Oracle Crystal Ball Monte Carlo simulation estimated the annual effective dose (AED) at 90 ± 50 µSv/yr, while the RESRAD (deterministic) simulation yielded an estimate of 240 µSv/yr. Similarly, the excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) was calculated to be 4.5E-4 ± 2E-4 through the Oracle crystal ball Monte Carlo simulation, and 7E-4 through RESRAD. While the effective dose values remain within the dose limits recommended by the ICRP, the estimated excess lifetime cancer risks suggest the need for implementing appropriate risk reduction strategies. It is recommended that radiation safety standards at mining sites be strengthened, public awareness be increased, and periodic environmental monitoring be conducted to mitigate long-term health risks.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast,...
Biological Effects of Radiation
Radiation: Applications
The average...
Radiation Pressure: Problem Solving
The average value of the rate of momentum transfer divided by the absorbing area represents the average force...
Radiological Investigation III: Pulmonary Angiogram and PET Scan
Pulmonary Angiogram
A Pulmonary Angiogram is an invasive procedure involving injecting a contrast medium through a catheter threaded into the pulmonary artery or the right side of the heart to visualize the pulmonary vasculature. Computed Tomography (CT) scans have mainly replaced this...
Radiological Investigation I: X-ray and CT


