Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Assessment of natural radioactivity levels and potential health risks around coal fired brick kilns of twin cities Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Arabian Journal of Geosciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this study, the concentrations of radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th, and 40 K) in feed coal, bottom ash, and soil samples have been analysed by high purity germanium (HPGe) based gamma spectrometry system for two brick kilns sites, located at Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan. An assessment of the potential radiological health impact of these brick kilns on the general public has also been investigated. Samples of feed coal, bottom ash, and soil were collected in December 2020 from the brick kilns located at Sher Dhamial (Islamabad) and Rawat (Rawalpindi). The increased natural radioactivity levels were observed in soil samples collected from the proximity of brick kilns with a maximum concentration of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40 K as 62.70 ± 5.70 Bq kg−1, 98.00 ± 2.60 Bq kg−1, and 567.80 ± 37.00 Bq kg−1 respectively. The decrease in radioactivity levels with the increase in distance from the brick kilns indicated that both sites have elevated radionuclides levels due to the deposition of fly ash released from brick kilns. The average values of radiological parameters such as air-absorbed dose rate, outdoor annual effective dose equivalent, radium equivalent activity, and excess lifetime cancer risk were estimated to be 55 nGy h−1, 0.07 mSv y−1, 117 Bq kg−1, and 0.24 × 10−3 respectively. We conclude that the operation of these facilities increased radionuclides concentrations at nearby distances. Potential radiological concerns exist for the coming years, if these facilities continue their operations. It is suggested that the release of fly ash discharges to the environment may be reduced, and a periodic monitoring program may be established to protect the public residing in the vicinity of such facilities. This study could serve as a baseline for future epidemiological studies and radiological monitoring initiatives for the coal industry in Pakistan.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The authors declare that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the paper and its supplementary information files.

References

  • Abbady A, Ahmed NK, El-Arabi AM, Michel R, El-Kamel AH, Abbady AGE (2006) Estimation of radiation hazard indices from natural radioactivity of some rocks. Nucl Sci Tech 17(2):118–122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abd El-mageed AI, El-Kamel AH, Abbady A, Harb S, Youssef AMM, Saleh II (2011) Assessment of natural and anthropogenic radioactivity levels in rocks and soils in the environments of Juban town in Yemen. Radiat Phys Chem 80(6):710–715

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abedin MJ, Karim MR, Hossain S, Deb N, Kamal M, Miah MHA, Khandaker MU (2019) Spatial distribution of radionuclides in agricultural soil in the vicinity of a coal-fired brick kiln. Arab J Geosci 12(7):1–12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-019-4355-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abedin MJ, Karim MR, Khandaker MU, Kamal M, Hossain S, Miah MHA, Bradley DA, Faruque MRI, Sayyed MI (2020) Dispersion of radionuclides from coal-fired brick kilns and concomitant impact on human health and the environment. Radiat Phys Chem 177:109165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radphyschem.2020.109165

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Akkurt I, Günoğlu K (2014) Natural radioactivity measurements and radiation dose estimation in some sedimentary rock samples in Turkey. Sci Technol Nucl Installations 2014

  • Amin YM, Khandaker MU, Shyen AKS, Mahat RH, Nor RM, Bradley DA (2013) Radionuclide emissions from a coal-fired power plant. Appl Radiat Isot 80:109–116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2013.06.014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Asaduzzaman K, Khandaker MU, Amin YM, Bradley DA (2016) Natural radioactivity levels and radiological assessment of decorative building materials in Bangladesh. Indoor Built Environ 25(3):541–550. https://doi.org/10.1177/1420326X14562048

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aykamış AŞ, Turhan Ş, Aysun Ugur F, Baykan UN, Kılıç AM (2013) Natural radioactivity, radon exhalation rates and indoor radon concentration of some granite samples used as construction material in Turkey. Radiat Prot Dosimetry 157(1):105–111

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhangare RC, Tiwari M, Ajmal PY, Sahu SK, Pandit GG (2014) Distribution of natural radioactivity in coal and combustion residues of thermal power plants. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 300:17–22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-014-2942-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Charro E, Peña V (2013) Environmental impact of natural radionuclides from a coal-fired power plant in Spain. Radiat Prot Dosimetry 153(4):485–495. https://doi.org/10.1093/rpd/ncs126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ćujić M, Dragović S, Đorđević M, Dragović R, Gajić B, Miljanić Š (2015) Radionuclides in the soil around the largest coal-fired power plant in Serbia: radiological hazard, relationship with soil characteristics and spatial distribution. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22(13):10317–10330. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3888-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • David M, Afzal M, Shoaib M, Aman F, Cloete KJ, Turi N, Jahan S (2020) Study of occupational exposure to brick kiln emissions on heavy metal burden, biochemical profile, cortisol level and reproductive health risks among female workers at Rawat, Pakistan. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27(35):44073–44088. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10275-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El-Arabi AM, Ahmed NK, El-Kamel AH (2001) Gamma spectroscopic analysis of powdered granite samples in some Eastern desert’s areas. Arab J Nucl Sci Appl 34(2):245–255

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghias S, Satti KH, Khan M, Dilband M, Naseem A, Jabbar A, Kali S, Ur-Rehman T, Nawab J, Aqeel M, Khan MA, Zafar MI (2021) Health risk assessment of radioactive footprints of the urban soils in the residents of Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan. Chemosphere 267:129171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Habib MA, Basuki T, Miyashita S, Bekelesi W, Nakashima S, Phoungthong K, Khan R, Rashid MB, Islam ARMT, Techato K (2019a) Distribution of naturally occurring radionuclides in soil around a coal-based power plant and their potential radiological risk assessment. Radiochim Acta 107(3):243–259. https://doi.org/10.1515/ract-2018-3044

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Habib MA, Basuki T, Miyashita S, Bekelesi W, Nakashima S, Techato K, Khan R, Majlis ABK, Phoungthong K (2019b) Assessment of natural radioactivity in coals and coal combustion residues from a coal-based thermoelectric plant in Bangladesh: implications for radiological health hazards. Environ Monit Assess 191(1):1–20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-018-7160-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang YJ, Chen CF, Huang YC, Yue QJ, Zhong CM, Tan CJ (2015) Natural radioactivity and radiological hazards assessment of bone-coal from a vanadium mine in central China. Radiat Phys Chem 107:82–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jabbar A (2010) Measurement of environmental radioactivity and assessment of doses to the general public in Rechna Doab, Pakistan (Doctoral dissertation, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology Islamabad-Pakistan)

  • Jabbar A, Bhatti AS, Ahmad SS, Arshed W, Akhter P (2009) Assessment of environmental gamma dose in northern Rechna Doab in Pakistan. Nucl Technol Radiat Prot 24(1):56–60. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-009-1185-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jabbar A, Tufail M, Arshed W, Bhatti AS, Ahmad SS, Akhter P, Dilband M (2010) Transfer of radioactivity from soil to vegetation in Rechna Doab, Pakistan. Isot Environ Health Stud 46(4):495–505. https://doi.org/10.1080/10256016.2010.537752

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Janković MM, Rajačić M, Todorović D, Sarap N, Krneta-Nikolić JD, Pantelić GK, Krstic MM (2016) Study of radioactivity in environment around power plants tent a and kolubara due to coal burning for 2015. In RAD Conference Proceedings (pp. 84–89). https://doi.org/10.21175/RadProc.2016.20

  • Khan IU, Sun W, Lewis E (2020) Estimation of various radiological parameters associated with radioactive contents emanating with fly ash from Sahiwal coal–fuelled power plant, Pakistan. Environ Monit Assess 192(11):1–11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-08669-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khandaker MU, Asaduzzaman K, Sulaiman AFB, Bradley DA, Isinkaye MO (2018) Elevated concentrations of naturally occurring radionuclides in heavy mineral-rich beach sands of Langkawi Island, Malaysia. Mar Pollut Bull 127:654–663. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.12.055

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kolo MT, Amin YM, Khandaker MU, Abdullah WHB (2017) Radionuclide concentrations and excess lifetime cancer risk due to gamma radioactivity in tailing enriched soil around Maiganga coal mine, Northeast Nigeria. Int J Radiat Res 15(1):71–80. http://ijrr.com/article-1-1888-en.pdf

  • Kolo MT, Khandaker MU, Shuaibu HK (2019) Natural radioactivity in soils around mega coal-fired cement factory in Nigeria and its implications on human health and environment. Arab J Geosci 12(15):1–11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-019-4607-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kravchenko J, Lyerly HK (2018) The impact of coal-powered electrical plants and coal ash impoundments on the health of residential communities. North Carolina Med J 79(5):289–300. https://doi.org/10.18043/ncm.79.5.289

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lauer NE, Hower JC, Hsu-Kim H, Taggart RK, Vengosh A (2015) Naturally occurring radioactive materials in coals and coal combustion residuals in the United States. Environ Sci Technol 49(18):11227–11233. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b01978

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lauer N, Vengosh A, Dai S (2017) Naturally occurring radioactive materials in uranium-rich coals and associated coal combustion residues from China. Environ Sci Technol 51(22):13487–13493. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b03473

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu G, Luo Q, Ding M, Feng J (2015) Natural radionuclides in soil near a coal-fired power plant in the high background radiation area, South China. Environ Monit Assess 187(6):1–8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-4501-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Makundi I, Nyaki M, Mohammed N (2018) Assessment of radioactivity levels in coal and coal ash in Kiwira coal mine using gamma-ray spectrometry. Tanzania J Sci 44(3):1–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Nuclear Energy Agency-Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (NEA-OECD) (1979) Exposure to radiation from the natural radioactivity in building materials. Report by a Group of Experts of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, Paris. https://www.oecd-nea.org/upload/docs/application/pdf/2019-12/exposure-to-radiation-1979.pdf

  • Özdemir Öge T, Özdemir FB, Öge M (2021) Assessment of environmental radioactivity in soil samples from Bartın Province, Turkey. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 328(1):149–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qureshi AA, Tariq S, Din KU, Manzoor S, Calligaris C, Waheed A (2014) Evaluation of excessive lifetime cancer risk due to natural radioactivity in the rivers sediments of Northern Pakistan. J Radiat Res Appl Sci 7(4):438–447. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrras.2014.07.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ravisankar R, Sivakumar S, Chandrasekaran A, Jebakumar JPP, Vijayalakshmi I, Vijayagopal P, Venkatraman B (2014) Spatial distribution of gamma radioactivity levels and radiological hazard indices in the East Coastal sediments of Tamilnadu, India with statistical approach. Radiat Phys Chem 103:89–98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radphyschem.2014.05.037

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ravisankar R, Chandramohan J, Chandrasekaran A, Jebakumar JPP, Vijayalakshmi I, Vijayagopal P, Venkatraman B (2015) Assessments of radioactivity concentration of natural radionuclides and radiological hazard indices in sediment samples from the East coast of Tamilnadu, India with statistical approach. Mar Pollut Bull 97(1–2):419–430. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.05.058

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salahel Din K (2022) Soil radioactivity levels and radiation exposure to the population in Aswan and Abu Simbel areas, South of Egypt. Phys Chem Earth 127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2022.103179

  • Singh LM, Kumar M, Sahoo BK, Sapra BK, Kumar R (2015) Study of natural radioactivity, radon exhalation rate and radiation doses in coal and flyash samples from thermal power plants, India. Phys Procedia 80:120–124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phpro.2015.11.070

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh LM, Kumar M, Sahoo BK, Sapra BK, Kumar R (2016) Study of radon, thoron exhalation and natural radioactivity in coal and fly ash samples of kota super thermal power plant, Rajasthan, India. Radiat Prot Dosimetry 171(2):196–199. https://doi.org/10.1093/rpd/ncw057

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tahir SNA, Jamil K, Zaidi JH, Arif M, Ahmed N, Ahmad SA (2005) Measurements of activity concentrations of naturally occurring radionuclides in soil samples from Punjab province of Pakistan and assessment of radiological hazards. Radiat Prot Dosimetry 113(4):421–427. https://doi.org/10.1093/rpd/nch484

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tufail M, Hamid T (2007) Natural radioactivity hazards of building bricks fabricated from saline soil of two districts of Pakistan. J Radiol Prot 27(4):481

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turhan Ş, Gören E, Garad AM, Altıkulaç A, Kurnaz A, Duran C, Hançerlioğulları A, Altunal V, Güçkan V, Özdemir A (2018) Radiometric measurement of lignite coal and its by-products and assessment of the usability of fly ash as raw materials in Turkey. Radiochim Acta 106(7):611–621. https://doi.org/10.1515/ract-2017-2863

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) (1988) Sources, effects and risk of ionization radiation, United Nations scientific committee on the effects of atomic radiation, Report to general assembly, UN, New York

  • United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) (2000) Sources and effects of ionizing radiation UNSCEAR Report 2000, New York

  • Uyanık NA (2022) Determination of the radiological risk and the cancer effect caused by geological units and samples from Afyon, Turkey. Pure Appl Geophys 179(4):1295–1308. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-022-02978-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Younis H, Ahmad F, Anees M, Atiq A, Shakeel N, Adil M, Mehboob K, Alhawsawi AM, Khan R, Khubrani AM, Qureshi AA, Ajaz M (2022) Gamma radioactivity and environmental radiation risks of granitoids in central and western Gilgit-Baltistan, Himalayas, North Pakistan. Results Phys 37:105509. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rinp.2022.105509

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang X (2017) Radioactivity level of soil around a coal-fired thermal power plant of northwest China. Int J Radiat Res 15(3):321–324. https://doi.org/10.18869/acadpub.ijrr.15.3.321

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Saima Shaheen, Syed Zafar Ilyas & Mazzammal Hussain

  2. Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science & Technology (PINSTECH), P.O. Nilore, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Abdul Jabbar, Muhmmad Dilband, Khizar Hayat Satti, Tahira Shabbir & Amara Naseem

  3. King Abdul-Aziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Khurram Mehboob

Authors
  1. Saima Shaheen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Abdul Jabbar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Syed Zafar Ilyas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mazzammal Hussain
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Muhmmad Dilband
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Khizar Hayat Satti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Tahira Shabbir
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Khurram Mehboob
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Amara Naseem
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mazzammal Hussain.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Amjad Kallel

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Shaheen, S., Jabbar, A., Ilyas, S.Z. et al. Assessment of natural radioactivity levels and potential health risks around coal fired brick kilns of twin cities Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan. Arab J Geosci 16, 405 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-023-11507-w

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-023-11507-w

Keywords

Search

Navigation