Gamma Radiation Hazard Associated with Tin Mining on Jos Plateau

Abstract

Tin miners may be exposed to gamma radiation due to radio nuclide contaminants associated with the tin. In this work, 10 samples of soil were collected from different mining sites on the Jos Plateau of North central Nigeria and were analyzed by measuring the concentrations (Bq/kg) of the three radio nuclides ⁴⁰K, ²³⁸U and ²³²Th which are associated with the tin; and calculating the absorbed dose rates per year. The gamma ray measurements were achieved through the use of gamma ray spectrometer coupled to a NaI(Ti) scintillation detector. Estimation of the absorbed dose rates using the Beck and Decmopo formula showed the maximum absorbed dose rate in one of the ten locations as 4.704 mSv/y and an average of 2.718 mSv/y was obtainedfor the ten locations. These are within the range given by ICRP, the maximum permissible dose per year for a radiation worker, which is about 20 mSv/y. Thus the mining of tin on the Jos Plateau poses no serious danger to lives.