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Radiological Assessment and Statistical Approaches of Natural Radionuclides in Soil Samples Related to Phosphate Ore Activities in the site of Dagbati, Southern Region of Togo

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Abstract

Distribution studies of 238U, 226Ra, 232Th, and 40 K in soil, statistical analysis of activity concentrations, and radiological safety assessment were carried out in the phosphate ore site of Dagbati, southern region of Togo. The measurements were done using high purity germanium (HPGe) detector gamma‑ray spectrometer. High values of activity concentrations of 238U and 226Ra measured were partially attributed to the nature of rocks and the geological structure of the studied area. Twenty-two out of 30 (73.33%) of soil samples presented values above the recommended limit for gamma-ray absorbed dose rate. Although the annual effective dose equivalent mean value of 0.68 mSv year−1 (0.54 for indoor and 0.14 for outdoor) was below the recommended limit, more than 73% of soil samples were above. Similarly, external and internal hazard’s indices, gamma level index, and excess lifetime cancer risk vary from 0.06 to 1.69, 0.09 to 3.20, 0.15 to 4.19, and 0.00004 to 0.00123, respectively, with more than 73% soil samples having values above the recommended limit. These are indications that long-term exposure to natural radiation may lead to cancer risk. However, considering the level of uranium in soil samples, the mass exhalation rate of radon was investigated and the mean value of 1450 mBq kg−1 h−1 obtained is lower than the safe value of 57,600 mBq kg−1 h−1. Therefore, using phosphate mining soil as building material is safe in terms of radon exposition but might lead to radiation exposure and further an increase of cancer incidence for the population.

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Data Availability

The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study may be made available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Code Availability

Not applicable.

Abbreviations

Raeq :

Radium equivalent (Bq kg−1)

A Ra :

Activity concentration of 226Ra (Bq kg−1)

A Th :

Activity concentration of 232Th (Bq kg−1)

AK :

Activity concentration of 40 K (Bq kg−1)

I γ :

External gamma index

ELCR:

Excess lifetime cancer risk

RF:

Risk factor of 0.05 Sv−1 (used by ICRP 60)

EF:

Coefficient of radon emanation from soil

α :

Statistically significant level

\(\dot{D}\)  :

Gamma-ray absorbed dose rate (nGy h−1)

IAEDE:

Indoor annual effective dose equivalent (mSv year−1)

OAEDE:

Outdoor annual effective dose equivalent (mSv year−1)

H int :

Internal exposure risk

Hext :

External exposure risk

DL:

Duration of life (estimated at 70 years)

ME(Rn):

Mass exhalation rate of radon (mBq kg−1 h−1)

λRn :

Decay constant of 222Rn (7.56 × 10−3 decay h−1)

SD:

Standard deviation

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to express their gratitude to the Director-General of the Jožef Stefan Institute (JSI) of Slovenia, Prof. Dr. Jadran Lenarčič for the laboratory support. The authors also appreciate the community of Dagbati for their great cooperation during sample collection period.

Funding

This research was funded by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) under Sandwich Training Educational Programme (STEP 2017); recipient: Mr. Eyakifama Hazou.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Lomé, 01, P.O. Box 1515, Lomé, Togo

    Eyakifama Hazou

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

    Tchilabalo Essossimna Patchali

  3. Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, University of Lomé, 01, P.O. Box 1515, Lomé, Togo

    Essomanda Konzou

  4. Laboratory of Physiology and Pharmacology, Research Unit: Pathophysiology-Bioactive Substances and Safety, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lomé, 01 BP: 1515, Lomé, Togo

    Poyodi Kola

  5. Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova cesta 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Benjamin Zorko

  6. Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, P.O. Box 24157, Douala, Cameroon

    Maurice Ndontchueng Moyo

  7. Department of Physics, FaST (Faculty of Sciences and Technics), University of Kara, P.O. Box: 404, Kara, Togo

    Paalamwé Komi Tchakpele

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Hazou, E., Patchali, T.E., Konzou, E. et al. Radiological Assessment and Statistical Approaches of Natural Radionuclides in Soil Samples Related to Phosphate Ore Activities in the site of Dagbati, Southern Region of Togo. Water Air Soil Pollut 233, 237 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-022-05700-y

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