Radiological Impact Assessment of Soil and Rock Samples in Underground Goldmine

Abstract

Soil and rock samples were collected monthly over a period of one year in 10 different levels in an underground goldmine to determine the radiological impact on workers. The samples were analysed using a high pure germanium detector. The average permissible value for the radionuclides were below the limits apart from Th-232. The lowest concentration of the natural radionuclides in soil and rock samples was observed in level 1000YOD and the highest concentration was observed in level 880. The hazard indices, exposure rate, excess lung cancer risk and annual effective dose from the rock and soil samples possess no radiological hazard if used for construction of buildings but the radium equivalent activity for level 880 were above the permissible limit and the mean excess life cancer risk (ELCR) for the naturally occurring radioactive materials in the soil and rock samples were above the average world value.

Keywords:Radon Concentration, NORM, Underground goldmine, High Pure Germanium Detector.

DOI: 10.7176/JEES/14-2-04

Publication date:March 31^st 2024