Radionuclide Concentration of Soil and Sediment in Gold-Mining Locations of Atakumosa-West Local Government, South-West Nigeria
Oladotun Wasiu Makinde,
Katherine Temitope Ogundele,
Isaac Ayodele Tubosun
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 3, June 2023
Pages:
57-62
Received:
5 October 2022
Accepted:
31 October 2022
Published:
29 May 2023
Abstract: This study determined the activity concentrations of 40K, 232Th and 238U in the soil, and sedimentusing gamma spectroscopy. This is with a view to determining the impacts of the mining operations on concentration of radioactive elements in the environment. Soil and Sediment were collected from three gold mining locations of Atakumosa-west Local Government area of Osun State for a period of 12 months. The control site selected for the study is Tonkere village, about 13Km from the study site, in Ife North-Central Local Government area of the State. Collected samples were analysed using gamma spectrometer. The NaI detector used was properly calibrated using absolute gamma ray energy for easy identification of peaks in the gamma spectrum. Results obtained from Gamma spectroscopic analysis revealed higher concentration of the three primordial radionuclidewith 40K having a generally high value in the locations 1 and 2 and increasing through the wet season while having lower values in the dry season. A similar trend was observed for 232Th and 238U whose recorded values were also higher in the wet season than in the dry season. Values recorded in all the samples were higher than world safe limits. Notably, similar results obtained for samples from control site were lower.
Abstract: This study determined the activity concentrations of 40K, 232Th and 238U in the soil, and sedimentusing gamma spectroscopy. This is with a view to determining the impacts of the mining operations on concentration of radioactive elements in the environment. Soil and Sediment were collected from three gold mining locations of Atakumosa-west Local Gov...
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Rainfall and Temperature Trend Analysis at Wuchale Station, South Wollo Zone, Northern Ethiopia
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 3, June 2023
Pages:
63-71
Received:
23 February 2023
Accepted:
17 May 2023
Published:
5 June 2023
Abstract: Climate change has become a distressful event throughout the world in recent years. Long term rainfall and temperature variations are one of the main determinants of climate variability of one’s area. The frequency and severity of climate related shocks has increased in many parts of Ethiopia and are likely to continue with increasing trend in global warming. The aim of this study is to determine trends of variation in temperature and rainfall at Wuchale station in South Wollo Zone of Amhara regional state. Monthly rainfall and temperature record data was obtained from National Meteorological Agency for the period of 1986–2018. Mann-Kendall's test and Sen’s slope estimator were used to detect the trend and magnitude of changes, respectively. The results revealed that a significant declining trend of annual rainfall by the rate of 108.86mm and a significant increasing trend of maximum temperature by the rate of 0.2°C per decade was observed. However, non-significant decreasing trend of belg rainfall by 16mm and minimum temperature by 0.1°C per decade and increasing trend of kiremt rainfall by the rate of 40mm per decade was observed over the study period. The coefficient of variation ranged from 25.64 to 60.29, indicates moderate to high rainfall variability and precipitation concentration index ranged from 11.77 to 20.66, indicates moderate to strong distribution of rainfall in the study area. Therefore, development planners should develop and provide high-value crop varieties that resist uncertain rainfall during crop maturation period for accelerating adaptive processes and adopt short maturing crop varieties that can escape early season droughts and be able to mature earlier than the existing varieties.
Abstract: Climate change has become a distressful event throughout the world in recent years. Long term rainfall and temperature variations are one of the main determinants of climate variability of one’s area. The frequency and severity of climate related shocks has increased in many parts of Ethiopia and are likely to continue with increasing trend in glob...
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Occupational Health Risks of Dusts and Heavy Metals Contamination from the Artisanal Gold Mine of Buhemba, Tanzania
Pamela Semiono,
Msafiri Jackson,
Erasto Focus
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 3, June 2023
Pages:
72-79
Received:
28 February 2023
Accepted:
30 March 2023
Published:
20 June 2023
Abstract: Exposure to heavy metals and dusts in artisanal and small scale mining activities is health issues among miners. This study was carried out at Buhemba artisanal and small scale gold mining sites situated in Mara region, Tanzania aims to assess the occupational health risks of small-scale gold miners who are exposed to dust and selected heavy metals. The respirable dust concentrations were measured by an aerosol monitor particle counter while the heavy metals were measured by an Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence from pits and processing area. The average concentration of respirable particles in the milling areas ranged from 0.4 g/m3 to 2.01 g/m3 for particle sizes of 0.3µm, 0.5 µm, 1 µm, 5 µm and 10 µm with highest value found in particle size 0.3µm. The respirable dust particle concentration from pits ranged from 0.002 g/m3 to 0.86 g/m3 for the particle size of 0.3µm, 0.5 µm, 1 µm, 5 µm and 10 µm. Milling and pits respirable dust concentrations were generally higher than the WHO recommended value. The average concentration of Mercury (27.24 mg/kg and 6.41mg/kg), Arsenic (269.50mg/kg and 167.41mg/k) for milling and pits respectively were higher than the recommended value by US-EPA. The risk estimates revealed that children are more vulnerable to non-cancer risk due to exposure to heavy metals to Hazard Index values of 27.59 and 7.23 for the milling and pits respectively. The total carcinogenic risk for children in the milling and pit areas at 5.60E-03 and 2.70E-04 respectively, were above the acceptable risk for involuntarily exposed person at 10-6. Total risk for adults in the milling and pit areas at 6.47E-04 and 4.04E-04 respectively, were above the acceptable risk for voluntarily exposed person at 10-4.
Abstract: Exposure to heavy metals and dusts in artisanal and small scale mining activities is health issues among miners. This study was carried out at Buhemba artisanal and small scale gold mining sites situated in Mara region, Tanzania aims to assess the occupational health risks of small-scale gold miners who are exposed to dust and selected heavy metals...
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