Preliminary assessment of natural radioactivity and associated radiation hazards in a phosphate mining site in southern area of Togo

Hazou, Eyakifama; Guembou Shouop, Cébastien Joel; Nguelem Mekongtso, Eric Jilbert; Ndontchueng Moyo, Maurice; Beyala Ateba, Jean Felix; Tchakpele

doi:10.1007/s41605-018-0091-x

Article (Scientific journals)

Preliminary assessment of natural radioactivity and associated radiation hazards in a phosphate mining site in southern area of Togo

Hazou, Eyakifama; Guembou Shouop, Cébastien Joel; Nguelem Mekongtso, Eric Jilbert et al.

2019 • In Radiation Detection Technology and Methods, 2019 (3) (3), p. 16

Peer reviewed

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https://hdl.handle.net/2268/231778

DOI
10.1007/s41605-018-0091-x

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Keywords :

Phosphate; Gamma spectrometry; BEGe6530 detector; Soil; Radiation hazard

Abstract :

[en] Introduction: Because of the increasing use of phosphate in industries worldwide, especially in Togo, it is interesting to investigate the potential radioactivity exposure of phosphate ores, especially in the one being exploring in Togo nowadays. Material and methods: The contents of natural radionuclides (40K, 226Ra, 232Th, 235U and 238U) were assessed in phosphate soil samples from Kpogamé, Dagbati and Kpémé in the maritime region of Togo by using gamma spectrometry-based Broad Energy Germanium detector (BEGe6530). Since no study was made prior to the exploitation, the samples from the control area of Anfoin-Kpota far away from the three others were considered as reference. Results and discussion: The results are discussed and compared with the data from other countries. The activity concentration of 40K, 226Ra, 232Th, 235U and 238U are between (59.45 and 129.99), (20.19 and 779.93), (16.81 and 121.42), (2.26 and 52.03) and (16.66 and 841.14) Bq kg−1, respectively. The values obtained shows that the exploitation sites (Dagbati and Kpogamé) and treatment site (Kpémé) have a very high level of radioactivity than the control area (Anfoin-Kpota). The Kpogamé and Dagbati exploitation and Kpémé waste discharging phosphate deposit sites were found to have higher activity concentration than many others exploited phosphate sedimentary deposits around the world. The average annual effective dose of the above studied sites is 0.36, 0.24 and 0.48 mSv year−1, respectively. The value related to the discharge waste site is about 2% of the 1.0 mSv year−1 recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection as the maximum annual dose to the public. Conclusions: The obtained result of both radioactivity and radiological level in the studied areas will be considered as a pre-operational baseline to estimate the possible radiological impacts due to mining and processing phosphate industrial activities.

Disciplines :

Physics

Author, co-author :

Hazou, Eyakifama; Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Lomé, P.O. Box 1515, Lomé, Togo > Laboratoire de Physique des Matériaux et des Composants à Semi-conducteurs (LPMCS), University of Lomé, P.O. Box 1515, Lomé, Togo

Guembou Shouop, Cébastien Joel ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Doct. sc. (phys. - paysage)

Nguelem Mekongtso, Eric Jilbert; Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, P.O. Box 24157, Douala, Cameroon

Ndontchueng Moyo, Maurice; National Radiation Protection Agency, P.O. Box 33732, Yaoundé, Cameroon

Beyala Ateba, Jean Felix; National Radiation Protection Agency, P.O. Box 33732, Yaoundé, Cameroon

Tchakpele; Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Lomé, P.O. Box 1515, Lomé, Togo

Language :

English

Title :

Preliminary assessment of natural radioactivity and associated radiation hazards in a phosphate mining site in southern area of Togo

Publication date :

12 January 2019

Journal title :

Radiation Detection Technology and Methods

ISSN :

2509-9930

eISSN :

2509-9949

Publisher :

Springer

Volume :

2019 (3)

Issue :

Pages :

Peer reviewed :

Peer reviewed

Additional URL :

https://doi.org/10.1007/s41605-018-0091-x

Available on ORBi :

since 18 January 2019

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