Quantification and Radiological Risk Estimation Due to the Presence of Natural Radionuclides in Maiganga Coal, Nigeria

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 11; no. 6; p. e0158100
• Main Authors: Kolo, Matthew Tikpangi, Khandaker, Mayeen Uddin, Amin, Yusoff Mohd, Abdullah, Wan Hasiah Binti
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 27.06.2016; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Analysis; Background radiation; Background Radiation - adverse effects; Biology and Life Sciences; Cancer; Coal; Coal Mining; Coal utilization; Correlation analysis; Dosimetry; Electric power generation; Energy; Engineering and Technology; Exploitation; Health hazards; Health risks; Influence; Inhalation; Laboratories; Low level; Medicine and Health Sciences; Nigeria; Occupational exposure; Occupational health; Parameter estimation; Physical Sciences; Physics; Radiation; Radiation Dosage; Radioactivity; Radioisotopes; Radiologic Health; Radiology; Radium; Radium - adverse effects; Radium - analysis; Radium 226; Radium isotopes; Radium radioisotopes; Research and Analysis Methods; Respiration; Sediments; Spectrometry; Thorium - adverse effects; Thorium - analysis; Urbanization; Nigeria; Kuala Lumpur Malaysia; Malaysia
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0158100

Following the increasing demand of coal for power generation, activity concentrations of primordial radionuclides were determined in Nigerian coal using the gamma spectrometric technique with the aim of evaluating the radiological implications of coal utilization and exploitation in the country. Mean activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K were 8.18±0.3, 6.97±0.3, and 27.38±0.8 Bq kg-1, respectively. These values were compared with those of similar studies reported in literature. The mean estimated radium equivalent activity was 20.26 Bq kg-1 with corresponding average external hazard index of 0.05. Internal hazard index and representative gamma index recorded mean values of 0.08 and 0.14, respectively. These values were lower than their respective precautionary limits set by UNSCEAR. Average excess lifetime cancer risk was calculated to be 0.04×10-3, which was insignificant compared with 0.05 prescribed by ICRP for low level radiation. Pearson correlation matrix showed significant positive relationship between 226Ra and 232Th, and with other estimated hazard parameters. Cumulative mean occupational dose received by coal workers via the three exposure routes was 7.69 ×10-3 mSv y-1, with inhalation pathway accounting for about 98%. All radiological hazard indices evaluated showed values within limits of safety. There is, therefore, no likelihood of any immediate radiological health hazards to coal workers, final users, and the environment from the exploitation and utilization of Maiganga coal.