RESRAD-ONSITE simulation to evaluate the effect of contamination thickness in determining the dose and excess lifetime cancer risk due to tin mining activities in Nigeria

Abstract

Soil excavation in search of mineral ores provides a means of livelihood to many families in Nigeria. However, the practice was found to be associated with many radiological health concerns that were not known to the miners and people living within the mining vicinities. In an effort to provide such useful information, the activity concentrations of ⁴⁰K, ²²⁶Ra, and ²³²Th from tin mining areas in Zainabi, Kano, Nigeria, were analyzed using a high-purity germanium detector. The results obtained show activity concentrations of ⁴⁰K, ²²⁶Ra, and ²³²Th higher than their corresponding world average values. A RESRAD-ONSITE software code was further used to evaluate the dose and cancer risk using a variable contamination thickness. The results obtained show an annual effective dose value greater than the maximum acceptable limit of 1 mSv/yr for non-radiation workers in Nigeria. The evaluated excess lifetime cancer risk also exceeded the United States Environmental Protection Agency threshold and the word average values of 1.45 × 10⁻³ and 1.06 × 10⁻⁴, respectively. Therefore, sustainable mining practices should be implemented in the areas to avert the perceived radiation-related problems.

KEYWORDS:

• Tin tailings
• Zainabi
• excess lifetime Cancer risk
• RESRAD-ONSITE

Acknowledgement

A section of this research was financially supported by the National University of Malaysia (UKM) under research grant number DIP-2020-039. Abdu Nasiru Muhammad thanks the management of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) for the PhD fellowship.

Availability of data and materials

Additional data/materials related to this work can be made available upon reasonable request from the corresponding author.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia: [grant no DIP-2020-039].

Notes on contributors

Abdu Nasiru Muhammad

Mr. Abdu Nasiru Muhammad is a nuclear regulator; he works with the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA). Currently, he is a PhD student at the University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). He works on the environmental and radiological impact assessment of mining activities in Nigeria.

Aznan Fazli Ismail

Dr. Aznan Fazli Ismail is an associate professor at the University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) department of applied physics (Nuclear Science Program). He holds a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Science from the University of Kebangsaan Malaysia and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Nuclear and Quantum Engineering from the Korean Advance Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). He has published more than 70 articles in reputable journals, and his research interests include environmental radioactivity, radiological impact assessment, radiation protection, radiation detection, and uranium and thorium extraction.

Nuraddeen Nasiru Garba

Dr. Nuraddeen Nasiru Garba is a senior lecturer and researcher at the Department of Physics at Ahmadu Bello University. He has obtained a B.Sc. (Hons.) degree in Physics from Bayero University Kano, an M.Sc. in Radiation Biophysics from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, and a Ph.D. in Physics (Radiological Health and Safety) from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. He has supervised many MSc and PhD students and has held many administrative responsibilities. He has participated in so many projects, notably the production of the radiological map of Malaysia between 2013 and 2014. He has attended many conferences and workshops and has published 81 articles in peer-reviewed journals. He is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Physics, the Nigerian Young Academy, and the Health Physics Society, and currently he is the publicity secretary of the Nigerian Young Academy (NYA). His research focuses on environmental radiation monitoring and protection.