Assessment of Natural Radioactivity in Rivers Sediment and Soil from the Copper Belt Artisanal Mining Region, Democratic Republic of the Congo  

作　　者：Emmanuel K. Atibu João M. Oliveira Margarida Malta Marta Santos Crispin K. Mulaji Pius T. Mpiana Fernando P. Carvalho Emmanuel K. Atibu;João M. Oliveira;Margarida Malta;Marta Santos;Crispin K. Mulaji;Pius T. Mpiana;Fernando P. Carvalho(University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Faculty of Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo;Laboratório de Protecção e Segurança Radiologica, Instituto Superior Técnico/Campus Tecnológico Nuclear, Universidadede Lisboa, Bobadela, Portugal)

机构地区：[1]University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Faculty of Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo [2]Laboratório de Protecç ã o e Seguranç a Radiologica, Instituto Superior Técnico/Campus Tecnológico Nuclear, Universidadede Lisboa, Bobadela, Portugal

出　　处：《Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection》2021年第7期1-20,共20页地球科学和环境保护期刊（英文）

摘　　要：<p> The concentrations and distribution of naturally occurring radionuclides <span><span><span><span>(</span>^{<span>238</span>}<span>U, </span>^{<span>235</span>}<span>U, </span>^{<span>234</span>}<span>U, </span>^{<span>230</span>}<span>Th, </span>^{<span>226</span>}<span>Ra, </span>^{<span>210</span>}<span>Pb, </span>^{<span>232</span>}<span>Th, </span>^{<span>228</span>}<span>Ra, and </span>^{<span>40</span>}<span>K)</span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span> were determined by alpha and gamma spectrometry in soil and sediments collected from Luilu and Dilala rivers located in the mining district of Kolwezi (Lualaba Province) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The average concentrations of </span>^{<span>238</span>}<span>U and </span>^{<span>226</span>}<span>Ra in the analyzed samples were 5</span></span></span></span><span><span><span> </span></span></span><span><span><span>-</span></span></span><span><span><span> </span></span></span><span><span><span>10 times higher than the world average values for soil provided by the </span></span></span><span><span><span>United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation. However,</span></span></span><span><span><span><span> the average concentrations of </span>^{<span>232</span>}<span>Th were found similar to the world average. In both river basins, artisanal mining activities and</span></span></span></span><span><span><span> mineral washing sites displayed the higher concentration values of radionuclides. The mean values of health risk indices calculated for those sites were found sig</span></span></span><span><span><span>nificantly higher compared to world average levels. Radiation protection measures seem needed to ensure the radiation safety of local populations.</span></span></span> </p> <p> <span><span><span><br /> </span></span></span> </p> <p> <span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Graphical Abstract</strong></span> </p> <p> <span><<p> The concentrations and distribution of naturally occurring radionuclides <span><span><span><span>(</span>^{<span>238</span>}<span>U, </span>^{<span>235</span>}<span>U, </span>^{<span>234</span>}<span>U, </span>^{<span>230</span>}<span>Th, </span>^{<span>226</span>}<span>Ra, </span>^{<span>210</span>}<span>Pb, </span>^{<span>232</span>}<span>Th, </span>^{<span>228</span>}<span>Ra, and </span>^{<span>40</span>}<span>K)</span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span> were determined by alpha and gamma spectrometry in soil and sediments collected from Luilu and Dilala rivers located in the mining district of Kolwezi (Lualaba Province) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The average concentrations of </span>^{<span>238</span>}<span>U and </span>^{<span>226</span>}<span>Ra in the analyzed samples were 5</span></span></span></span><span><span><span> </span></span></span><span><span><span>-</span></span></span><span><span><span> </span></span></span><span><span><span>10 times higher than the world average values for soil provided by the </span></span></span><span><span><span>United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation. However,</span></span></span><span><span><span><span> the average concentrations of </span>^{<span>232</span>}<span>Th were found similar to the world average. In both river basins, artisanal mining activities and</span></span></span></span><span><span><span> mineral washing sites displayed the higher concentration values of radionuclides. The mean values of health risk indices calculated for those sites were found sig</span></span></span><span><span><span>nificantly higher compared to world average levels. Radiation protection measures seem needed to ensure the radiation safety of local populations.</span></span></span> </p> <p> <span><span><span><br /> </span></span></span> </p> <p> <span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Graphical Abstract</strong></span> </p> <p> <span><

关 键 词：Natural Radioactivity Gamma-Ray Spectrometry Alpha-Particle Spectrometry Artisanal Mining Activity Radiological Hazard 

分 类 号：O17[理学—数学]