Abstract
Radiometric investigation has been conducted in Al Jalamid phosphate mining area, for purposes of radiation protection. A car-borne monitoring system was used for area monitoring, whereas thermoluminescence dosimeters were used for personal dose rate measurements. Natural radioactivity has been analyzed in groundwater by \(\upalpha \)-spectrometry and liquid scintillation counting. The occupational exposure dose rate inside the open mines and the physical beneficiation site was the highest, ranging from 0.08–\(0.50\,\upmu \hbox {Sv/h}\), compared to the normal background values (0.04–\(0.06\,\upmu \hbox {Sv/h}\)) recorded on roads and undisturbed topsoil surface. The dose rate was ranging from 0.04–\(0.1\,\upmu \hbox {Sv/h}\) inside the chemical beneficiation plant. The personal exposure dose rate measurements indicated that a worker would receive, on average, an occupational radiation dose of about \(0.214\,\upmu \hbox {Sv/h}\) inside the mine sites. It was lowest (about \(0.06\,\upmu \hbox {Sv/h}\)) in the offices located outside the mining and ore beneficiation sites. Gross \(\upalpha \) and gross \(\upbeta \) measurements in groundwater showed activity concentrations ranging from 0.61 to 0.96 Bq/L and from 2.08 to 3.03 Bq/L, with average values of \(0.78\pm 0.08\) and \(2.44\pm 037\,\hbox {Bq/L}\), respectively. All samples have activity levels exceeding the national regulation limit values. Detailed analysis showed that this water contains uranium and radium with average concentrations of \(0.12\pm 0.04\), \(0.33\pm 0.04\), \(0.14\pm 0.3\) and \(21\pm 1.5\,\hbox {Bq/L}\), for \({}^{238}\hbox {U}\), \({}^{226}\hbox {Ra}\), \({}^{228}\hbox {Ra}\) and \({}^{222}\hbox {Rn}\), respectively. The obtained results have been discussed in detail.
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This work was funded by the National Plan for Science, Technology and Innovation (MAARIFAH), King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Award No. 11-ENV2058-03). The authors also acknowledge with thanks Science and Technology Unit, King Abdulaziz University for technical support.
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Shabana, ES.I., Banoqitah, E.M., Qutub, M.M.T. et al. Evaluation of Radiation Hazards Due to Mining Activities in Al Jalamid Mining Area, North Province, Saudi Arabia. Arab J Sci Eng 44, 8799–8804 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-019-03840-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-019-03840-8