Abstract
Low-level actinium contamination (228Ac) of petroleum sludge is reported. The sludge is earmarked for road-building and soil enrichment, hence long-term radiation in low doses is not desirable. We subsequently investigated the distribution of this radioactivity over a one-year period. Collection was conducted at different sites, and the sludge was subjected to high-resolution gamma-ray measurement with a Geenlarge this page detector. Samples of 1 kg dry weight were prepared in suitable Marinelli beakers and counted for 12 h. The approximate literature guideline for this radioistope in soil and regular sludge is about 60 Bq/kg. The levels in many of our samples were several times higher, and activities up to 600 Bq/kg were observed. The general distribution was studied; and suggestions for possible preventative remediation to deplete the activity levels in the sludge prior to its use as a building material and on sludge-farms are outlined. The study, therefore, formed an interesting contribution to research associated with radioactivity in the environment.
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Pillay, A.E., Salih, F.M. & Jayasekara, K. Environmental Impact of using actinium (228Ac)-contaminated sludge as soil conditioner and sand substitute. Water Air Soil Pollut 176, 69–75 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-006-9147-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-006-9147-5