Public Exposure to Natural Radioactivity Near Uranium Deposits in Manyoni Area, Central Tanzania

Shovi Sawe

doi:10.15392/2319-0612.2023.2274

Authors

Shovi Sawe Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15392/2319-0612.2023.2274

Keywords:

Natural radioactivity, Public exposure, Manyoni, Tanzania

Abstract

Assessment of public exposure to background radiation was performed in Manyoni, Tanzania to address public concerns following the discovery of uranium deposits in their neighborhoods. Results show that the highest concentrations of radionuclides are 112, 95 and 463 Bq.kg^-1 for ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K, respectively. The highest annual effective dose to the public is 2.91 mSv.y^-1 with a mean value of 1.29 mSv.y^-1. Authorities may use these results to address public concerns as well as the baseline information. Further investigations on public exposures in Manyoni are recommended.

Views: 187
PDF Downloads: 159
XML Downloads: 54

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

RAGHAVENDRA, T. ; RAMAKRISHNA, S.U.B. ; VIJAYALAKSHMI, T. ; HIMABINDU. V. ; ARUNACHALAM, J. Assessment of radon concentration and external gamma radiation level in the environs of the proposed uranium mine at Peddagattu and Seripally regions, Andhra Pradesh, India. J. Radiat. Res. Appl. Sci, v.7(3), p. 269–273, 2014.

UNSCEAR (United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation). Ionizing Radiation : Sources and Biological Effects, Report to the General Assembly, with annexes, 1982.

MISSIMER, T.M. ; TEAF, C. ; MALIVA, R.G. ; DANLEY-THOMSON, A. ; COVERT, D. ; HEGY, M. Natural Radiation in the Rocks, Soils, and Groundwater of Southern Florida with a Discussion on Potential Health Impacts. 2019. Avalable at : doi : 10.3390/ijerph16101793. Last accessed : 7 Oct. 2022

UNSCEAR (United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation). Sources and effects of ionizing radiation. Report to the General Assembly, with scientific annexes. United Nations. : New York, 2000.

RAMOLA, R.C. ; CHOUBEY, V.M. ; PRASAD, G. ; GUSAIN, G.S. ; TOSHEVA, Z. ; KIES, A. Radionuclide analysis in the soil of Kumaun Himalaya, India, using gamma ray spectrometry, Current Science, v.100(6), p.906 –914, 2011.

TABOADA, T. ; CORTIZAS, M. ; GARCIA, A. ; GARCIA-RODEJA, E. Uranium and thorium in weathering and pedogenetic profiles developed on granitic rocks from NW Spain. Sci. Total Environ, v.356, p.192–206, 2006.

EL AASSY, I.E. ; NADA, A.A. ; EL GALY, M.M. ; EL FEKY, M.G. ; ABD EL MAKSOUD, T.M. ; TALAAT, S.M. ; IBRAHIM, E.M. Behavior and environmental impacts of radionuclides during the hydrometallurgy of calcareous and argillaceous rocks, southwestern Sinai, Egypt. Appl. Radiat. Isot, v.70, p. 1024–1033, 2012.

TAWFIC, A.F. ; ZAKALY, H.M.H. ; AWAD, H.A. ; TANTAWY, H.R. ; ABBASI, A. ; ABED, N.S. ; MOSTAFA, M. Natural radioactivity levels and radiological implications in the high natural radiation area of Wadi El Reddah, Egypt. J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem, v.327, p. 643–652, 2021.

BORREGO-SOTO, G. ; ORTIZ-LOPEZ, R. ; ROJAS-MARTINEZ, A. Ionizing radiation-induced DNA injury and damage detection in patients with breast cancer. 2019. Avalable at Doi : 10.1590/S1415-475738420150019. Last accessed : 7Sept. 2022.

SIDDEEG, S.M. ; SULIMAN, M.A. ; BEN REBAH, F. ; MNIF, W. ; AHMED, A.Y. ; ISAM SALIH, I. Comparative Study of Natural Radioactivity and Radiological Hazard Parameters of Various Imported Tiles Used for Decoration in Sudan. 2018. Avalable at : https://doi.org/10.3390/sym10120746. Last accessed :7 Oct. 2022.

ADEL, E.H. ; SAMIA, H. ; TAHA, EBYAN, O.A. ; RASHED, W.M. ; EL-FEKY, M.G.. ; ALQAHTANI, M.S. ; KORANY, K.A. ; HANFI, M.Y. Natural Radioactivity Assessment and Radiation Hazards of Pegmatite as a Building Material, Hafafit Area, Southeastern Desert, Egypt. Toxics. 2022. Avalable at : https://doi.org/10.3390/ toxics10100596. Last accessed : 12 Oct. 2022.

BANZI, F.P. ; KIFANGA, L.D. ; BUNDALA, F.M. Natural radioactivity and radiation exposure at the Minjingu phosphate mine in Tanzania. J. Radiol. Prot, v. 20, p. 41–51, 2000.

HENDRY, J.H. ; SIMON, S.L. ; WOJCIK, A. ; SOHRABI, M. ; BURKART, W. ; CARDIS, E. ; LAURIER. ; D, TIRMARCHE, M. ; HAYATA, I. Human exposure to high natural background radiation : what can it teach us about radiation risks ? 2009. Avalable at : DOI : 10.1088/0952-4746/29/2A/S03. Last accessed :21 Nov. 2022.

URANEX. New Uranium mineralization discovered at Manyoni. 2010. Avalable at : http://www.infomine.com/index/pr/Pa872980.PDF. Last accessed : 15 Nov 2022

MUDD, G.M. Radon releases from Australian uranium mining and milling Projects, Assessing the UNSCEAR Approach. J. Environ. Radioact, v. 99, p.288 –315, 2008.

URT (United Republic of Tanzania). Population and Housing Census (PHC), 2012.

HOLYNSCA, B. ; JASION, J. Simultaneous determination of some trace metals in plant material by EDXRF. J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem, v. 105(2), p.71–77, 1986.

SAWE, S.F. ; SHILLA, D.A. ; MACHIWA, J. F. Lead (Pb) Contamination Trends in Msimbazi Estuary Reconstructed from 210Pb-Dated Sediment Cores (Msimbazi River, Tanzania). Environ. Forensics. 2020. Avalable at : http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15275922.2020.1805823. Last accessed :02 Nov. 2022.

DIAZ-ASENCIO, M. ; ALONSO-HERNANDEZ, C. ; BOLANOS-ALVAREZ, Y. ; GOMEZ-BATISTA, M. ; PINTO, V. ; MORABITO, R. ; HERNANDEZ-ALBERNAS, J.I. ; ERIKSSON, M. ; SANCHEZ-CABEZA, J.A. One century sedimentary record of Hg and Pb pollution in the Sagua estuary (Cuba) derived from 210Pb and 137Cs chronology. Mar. Pollut. Bull, v. 59, p.108–115, 2009.

SAWE, S.F. ; SHILLA, D.A. ; MACHIWA, J.F. Reconstruction of metal(loid)s pollution history in sediments of Wami Estuary, Indian Ocean Coast of Tanzania. Environ Forensics. 2021. Avalable at : https://doi.org/10.1080/15275922.2021.1913676. Last accessed : 12 Dec.2022.

IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency). IAEA-375 (Radionuclides and trace elements in soil), Analytical Quality Control Services, Vienna, Austria, 2000.

TZORTZIS, M. ; TSERTOS, H. ; CHRISTOFIDER, S. ; CHRISTODOULIDES, G. Gamma ray measurement of Naturally Occuring Radioactive Samples from Cyprus Characteristic Geologgical Rocks. Radiat. Meas, v. 37, p. 221–22, 2003.

BERETKA, J. ; MATTHEW, P.J. Natural radioactivity of Australian building materials, industrial wastes and by-products. Health Phys, v. 48, p. 87–95,1985.

ZARATE-MORALES, A. ; BUENFIL, A. Environmental gamma dose measurements in Mexico City using TLD. Health Phys, v.71(3) :358–361, 1996.

RAFIQUE, M. Ambient indoor/outdoor gamma radiation dose rates in the city and at high altitudes of Muzaffarabad (Azad Kashmir). Environ Earth Sci, v.70, p.1783–90, 2013.

ALOMARIA, A.H. ; SALEHB, M.A. ; HASHI, S. ; ALSAYAHEEN A, ABUKASHABEH A. Statistical relationship between activity concentrations of radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th, 40K, and 137Cs and geological formations in surface soil of Jordan.2019. Avalable at : https://doi.org/10.1080/10256016.2019.1581776. Last accessed : 15 Dec. 2022.

AL-SALEH, F.S. Measurements of indoor gamma radiation and radon concentrations in dwellings of Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia. Appl. Radiat. Isot, v. 65, p.843–8, 2007.

FURETTA, C. Handbook of Thermoluminescence, World Scientific Singapore, River Edge, NJ, London, 2003.

EL-DALY, T.A. ; HUSSEIN, A.S. Natural radioactivity levels in environmental samples in north western desert of Egypt. 2008. Avalable at : https://inis.iaea.org/collection/NCLCollectionStore/_Public/41/046/41046588.pdf. Last accessed :5 jan. 2023.

DRAGOVIC, S. ; MANDIC, L.J. ; MOMCILOVIC, M. ; ONJIA, A. Population doses from terrestrial gamma exposure in Serbia. 2007. Avalable at : DOI :10.2298/AOO0704078D. Last accessed : 11 Febr. 2023.

IAEA SAFETY STANDARDS. Draft Safety Guide DS499 (pg.44, para. 6.18b). Available at : https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML2106/ML21067A540.pdf. Last accessed :3 May 2023.

NKUBA, L. ; NYANDA, P. Natural radioactivity levels and estimation of radiation exposure from soils in Bahi and Manyoni Districts in Tanzania. 2017. Avalable at : https://doi.org/10.15392/bjrs.v5i3.306. Last accessed :5 Jan. 2023.

ELISADIKI, J. ; MAKUNDI, I. Establishment of background radiation dose rate in the vicinity of the proposed Manyoni Uranium Project, Singida. 2016. Avalable at : https://www.ajol.info/index.php/tjs/article/view/148837. Last accessed : 11Febr. 2023.

SAKELLARIOU, K. ; ANGELOPOULOS, A. ; SAKELLIOU, L. ; SANDILOS, P. ; SOTIRIOU, D. ; PROUKAKIS, C. Indoor Gamma Radiation Measurements in Greece. Radiat. Prot. Dosim, v. 60(2), p.177–80, 1995.

VAUPOTIC, J. ; SIKOVEK, M. ; KOBAL, I. Systematic Indoor Radon and Gamma-Ray Measurements in Slovenian Schools. Health Phys, v.78(5), p. 559–62, 2000.

AHMAD, T.R. ; NURSAMA, H.A. ; HUSIN, W. Assessment of Radiation Dose Rates in the High Terrestrial Gamma Radiation Area of Selama District, Perak, Malaysia. Applied Phys Res, v. 1(2), p.45 –52, 2009.

HAZRATI, S. ; HADI, S. ; MOJTABA, A. ; ALIZADEH, A. ; FAKHIMI, H. ; RAHIMZADEH, S. Assessment of Gamma Dose Rate in Indoor Environments in Selected Districts of Ardabil Province, Northwestern Iran. Int J Occup Hyg, v.1(2), p.42–5, 2010.

INOUE, K. ; FUKUSHI, M. ; LE, T. ; TSURUOKA, H. ; KASAHARA, S. ; NIMELAN, V. Distribution of gamma radiation dose rate related with natural radionuclides in all of Vietnam and radiological risk assessment of the built up environment. 2022. Avalable at : https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-69003-0. Last accessed : 14 Mar. 2023.