Natural Radioactivity in Soil and Radiological Risk Assessment in Lișava Uranium Mining Sector, Banat Mountains, Romania
Source abstract
Abstract
The specific activity and spatial distribution of 238U, 232Th and 40K were determined in the surface soil from the Lișava uranium mining sector. This sector belongs to the Banat district, an historically important uranium mining area in Romania (an area with closed uranium mines and a radioactive waste dump). Gamma-ray spectrometry using a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector was used to measure the activity of naturally occurring radionuclides in the soil. The average specific activities of 238U, 232Th and 40K in the soil were 197.21 Bq/kg for 238U, 16.21 Bq/kg for 232Th and 543.21 Bq/kg for 40K. The mineral contents of selected waste rock samples (sandstones) were examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), which revealed that brannerite, pitchblende and coffinite were the most important uranium-bearing minerals. The means of the radiological hazard parameters were calculated to be 262.22 Bq/kg radium equivalent activity (Raeq), 123.72 nGy/h absorbed gamma dose rates (DR), 0.7 external hazard index (Hex) and 1.8 representative level index (RLI). The spatial distribution of the risk assessment indices associated with the investigated soils exceeded the median values provided by UNSCEAR and reflected the geological settings and influences of anthropic activities such as uranium mining practices and the tipping of radioactive mining waste.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Radioactivity and Radon Measurements · Radioactive contamination and transfer · Nuclear and radioactivity studies
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Radiometry Laboratory, Geological Institute of Romania, 1 Caransebes st., RO 012271 Bucharest, Romania
Institute of Geodynamics “Sabba S. Ștefănescu”, Romanian Academy, RO 020032 Bucharest, Romania
Funding
Romanian Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitalization
References (37)
Show source-provided references
1. Yerevan soil radioactivity: Radiological and geochemical assessment10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129173 ↗
2. Reahabilitation of the Barzava Uranium Mine Tailings10.1061/(ASCE)HZ.2153-5515.0000172 ↗
3. International Atomic Energy Agency (1989). Evaluating the Reliability of Predictions Made Using Environmental Transfer Models, IAEA.
4. Determination of radioactivity concentrations in soil samples and dose assessment for Rize Province, Turkey
5. Radioactivity in Soils and Vegetables from Uranium Mining Regions10.1016/j.proeps.2014.05.009 ↗
6. Tye, A.M., Milodowski, A.E., and Smedley, P.L. (2017). Distribution of Natural Radioactivity in the Environment, British Geological Survey. British Geological Survey Internal Report.
7. Characterization of uranium in soil samples from a prospective uranium mining in Serule, Botswana for nuclear forensic application
8. Gupta, D., and Walther, C. (2020). The Behaviour of Uranium in Soils and the Mechanisms of Its Accumulation by Agricultural Plants. Uranium in Plants and the Environment. Radionuclides and Heavy Metals in the Environment, Springer.
9. The Composition of the Continental Crust
10. International Atomic Energy Agency (2003). Guidelines for Radioelement Mapping Using Gamma Ray Spectrometry Data, International Atomic Energy Agency. IAEA-TECDOC-1363.
11. De Vito, B., Ippolito, F., and Capaldi, G. (1984). Geochemical behaviour of uranium in the supergene environment. Uranium Geochemistry, Mineralogy, Geology, Exploration and Resources, The Institution of Mining and Metallurgy.10.1007/978-94-009-6060-2 ↗
12. Geology and Mineral Chemistry of Uranium and Thorium-bearing Minerals in Rare-Metal (NYF) Pegmatites of Um Solimate, South Eastern Desert, Egypt10.1111/1755-6724.14708 ↗
13. Lasheen, E.S.R., Zakaly, H.M.H., Alotaibi, B.M., Saadawi, D.A., Ene, A., Fathy, D., Awad, H.A., and El Attar, R.M. (2022). Radiological Risk Parameters of the Phosphorite Deposits, Gebel Qulu El Sabaya: Natural Radioactivity and Geochemical Characteristics. Minerals, 12.10.3390/min12111385 ↗
14. International Atomic Energy Agency (1996, January 4–8). Planning for environmental restoration of uranium mining and milling sites in central and eastern Europe. Proceedings of the Workshop Held under the Technical Co-Operation Project RER/9/022 on Environmental Restoration in Central and Eastern Europe, Felix, Romania. No. IAEA-TECDOC-982.
15. European Commission, Directorate-General for Energy (2012). Verification under the terms of Article 35 of the Euratom Treaty. Uranium Mining, Processing, Fuel Fabrication and National Monitoring Networks, Romania, European Commission, Directorate-General for Energy (ENER). Ro-12/05.
16. Ecological Reconstruction of Radioactive Mining Waste Dumps—Case Study of Natra Waste Dump
17. National Uranium Company (2010). Review of the Technical Project Regarding the Execution of Closure and Rehabilitation Works of Lişava Mine, National Uranium Company (NUC). (In Romanian).
18. Gheuca, I., and Ilinca, V. (2022). Geological Map of Romania, 1:200,000 Scale, Geological Institute of Romania.
19. Dahlkamp, F.J. (2016). Uranium Deposits of the World: Europe, Springer.10.1007/978-3-540-78554-5 ↗
20. Bejenaru, C., and Cioloboc, D. (1993). Uranium Exploration and Production in Romania: Case Histories and Prospects. Recent Developments in Uranium Resources and Supply, IAEA. No. IAEA-TECDOC-823.
21. Nitu, G. (1974). Les conditions tectonomagmatiques de la formation des agistments d’uranium de Roumanie. Formation of Uranium Ore Deposits, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
22. Salminen, R., Batista, M.J., Bidovec, M., Demetriades, A., De Vivo, B., De Vos, W., Duris, M., Gilucis, A., Gregorauskiene, V., and Halamić, J. (2005). Geochemical Atlas of Europe, Part 1, Background Information, Methodology and Maps, Geological Survey of Finland.
23. Natural radioactivity, and dose assessment in surface soil from Guangdong, a high background radiation province in China
24. Radiological risk assessment and spatial distribution of naturally occurring radionuclides within riverbed sediments near uranium deposits: Tulgheș-Grințieș, Eastern Carpathians (Romania)
25. Ion, A. (2012, January 17–23). Assessment of natural radioactivity level in rocks of Ditrau Alkaline Massif area, Eastern Carpathians, Romania. Proceedings of the 12th International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference SGEM 2012, Albena, Bulgaria.10.5593/sgem2012/s20.v5013 ↗
26. Dincă, G., Apopei, A.I., Szabo, R., and Maftei, A.E. (2022). The Effect of Mn Substitution on Natural Sphalerites by Means of Raman Spectroscopy: A Case Study of the Săcărâmb Au-Ag-Te Ore Deposit, Apuseni Mountains, Romania. Minerals, 12.10.3390/min12070885 ↗
27. Natural radioactivity of Australian building materials, industrial wastes and by-products10.1097/00004032-198501000-00007 ↗
28. United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (2000). Sources and Effect of Ionizing Radiation, United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR). Report to the General Assembly, with Scientific Annexes.
29. Evaluation of Natural Radionuclide Content in River Sediments and Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk Due to Gamma Radioactivity
30. Assessments of radioactivity concentration of natural radionuclides and radiological hazard indices in sediment samples from the East coast of Tamilnadu, India with statistical approach10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.05.058 ↗
31. Gamma radiation measurements of naturally occurring radioactive sample from commercial Egyptian granites10.1007/s12665-012-1538-x ↗
32. The impact of a uranium mining site on the stream sediments (Crucea mine, Romania)
33. Natural radioactivity around former uranium mine, Gabrovnica in Eastern Serbia10.1007/s10967-014-3203-1 ↗
34. Determination of natural radioactivity levels and radiological hazards in environmental samples from artisanal mining sites of Anka, North-West Nigeria
35. Dispersion of radionuclides from coal-fired brick kilns and concomitant impact on human health and the environment10.1016/j.radphyschem.2020.109165 ↗
36. Caridi, F., Di Bella, M., Sabatino, G., Belmusto, G., Fede, M.R., Romano, D., Italiano, F., and Mottese, A.F. (2021). Assessment of Natural Radioactivity and Radiological Risks in River Sediments from Calabria (Southern Italy). Appl. Sci., 11.10.3390/app11041729 ↗
37. Antunes, M., Santos, A., Valente, T., and Albuquerque, T. (2020). Spatial Mobility of U and Th in a U-enriched Area (Central Portugal). Appl. Sci., 10.10.3390/app10217866 ↗