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Radiological impact of mining: new insight from cancer risk assessment of radon in water from Ifelodun beryllium mining, North-Central Nigeria using Monte Carlo simulation

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Abstract

Since mining activities are known to contribute immensely to human exposure to ionizing radiation of terrestrial origin, the berylium mining site in Ifelodun is believed to cause radiological impacts. Forty-eight samples of surface and ground waters were collected within this area and analyzed in order to assess radon (222Rn) radioactivity level and its associated effective doses. The 222Rn activity concentration in the ground and surface waters were analyzed using a calibrated RAD7-active electronic detector big bottle system. The fact-findings from the mean Radon concentration and the estimated annual effective doses for adults, children, and infants reveals values that were mostly above the recommended limits set by regulatory bodies. The order of radiological risk follow the pattern infant > children > adult. All the estimated values of the cancer risks for both surface and ground water using the Monte Carlo simulation are higher than the recommended value of 0.2 (× 10−3) provided by ICRP and UNSCEAR. Owing to this radiation risk, strict and effective measures need to be put in place to safeguard populace in the area and the workers in the mining site.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge the supports enjoyed from the entire staffs of IBRAJ NIGERIA LIMITED. We appreciate the suggestions of the anonymous reviewers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria

    Muyiwa Michael Orosun, Taiye Benjamin Ajibola, Blessing Rhoda Farayade, Kayode Richard Ajulo & Abayomi Daniel Adewuyi

  2. Department of Physics and Engineering Physics, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife, Nigeria

    Fisayo Cornelius Akinyose

  3. BS Geophysical and Consultancy Limited, Ilorin, Nigeria

    Naheem Banji Salawu

  4. Department of Chemistry, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria

    Hitler Louis

Authors
  1. Muyiwa Michael Orosun
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  2. Taiye Benjamin Ajibola
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  3. Blessing Rhoda Farayade
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  4. Fisayo Cornelius Akinyose
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  5. Naheem Banji Salawu
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  6. Hitler Louis
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  7. Kayode Richard Ajulo
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  8. Abayomi Daniel Adewuyi
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Contributions

MMO, TBA, and BRF conceived and designed the research work, collect the data, and wrote the paper. FCA, BNS, LH, KRA, and ADA performed the risks analysis and final compilation of the work.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Muyiwa Michael Orosun.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Amjad Kallel

Highlights

• All the measured samples have radon concentration greater than the maximum permissible limit of 11.1 Bq/l and 10 Bq/l by USEPA and WHO, respectively.

• The radon concentration is higher in the ground water compared to the surface water.

• The estimated mean annual effective dose for all age groups is higher than the recommended limits.

• The order of radiation hazard to all age groups follows the order; infant > children > adult.

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Orosun, M.M., Ajibola, T.B., Farayade, B.R. et al. Radiological impact of mining: new insight from cancer risk assessment of radon in water from Ifelodun beryllium mining, North-Central Nigeria using Monte Carlo simulation. Arab J Geosci 14, 2380 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-08670-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-08670-3

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