Naturally occurring radionuclides and potentially toxic elements in mine waters from artisanal mining sites within Ife-Ilesha schist-belt in Nigeria

IF 3 3区地球科学 Q2 GEOSCIENCES, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Physics and Chemistry of the Earth Pub Date : 2025-03-12 DOI:10.1016/j.pce.2025.103902

Matthew Omoniyi Isinkaye , Paulinah Oyindamola Fasanmi , Hamid Osman , Mayeen Uddin Khandaker

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The Ife-Ilesha schist belt in southwest Nigeria is one of the most mineralized schist belts in Nigeria. Large amount of wastes are generated during mining processes and accumulate as tailings within the mining environment. These tailings, which contain high concentrations of natural radionuclides and potentially toxic elements, are washed into mining ponds in the mining environment. The water in these mining ponds is utilized by miners and populations around the mining sites, thereby causing serious negative health effects on humans and the environment. Water samples were collected from mining pits and waste water ponds in five gold mining sites and a kaolin mining site within the Ife-Ilesha schist belt. Activity concentrations of natural radionuclides (⁴⁰K, ²³⁸U, and ²³²Th) and potential toxic elements (PTEs) have been measured using gamma and atomic absorption spectroscopies. The results show that average concentrations of ⁴⁰K, ²³⁸U, and ²³²Th in the mine waters are 217 ± 40, 10 ± 09 and 16 ± 02 Bq/kg, which are far higher than their permissible level in water. The average concentrations PTEs decrease according to the sequence; Zn > Cr > Cu > Pb > As > Cd > Ni. The concentrations of As, Cd and Cr, exceeded their respective limits in mine water. Based on the results of this research, it can be concluded that the mine waters pose significant radiological risks. The results of PTEs show potential risks to both humans and the environment from the mine waters.

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尼日利亚西南部的伊费-伊莱沙片岩带是尼日利亚矿化程度最高的片岩带之一。采矿过程中会产生大量废物，并在采矿环境中堆积成尾矿。这些尾矿含有高浓度的天然放射性核素和潜在有毒元素，被冲入采矿环境中的采矿池。矿工和矿区周围的居民使用这些矿池中的水，从而对人类和环境造成严重的负面健康影响。从伊费-伊莱沙片岩带的五个金矿开采点和一个高岭土开采点的矿坑和废水池中采集了水样。利用伽马和原子吸收光谱测量了天然放射性核素（40K、238U 和 232Th）和潜在有毒元素（PTEs）的活性浓度。结果显示，矿井水中 40K、238U 和 232Th 的平均浓度分别为 217 ± 40、10 ± 09 和 16 ± 02 Bq/kg，远高于其在水中的允许浓度。PTEs 的平均浓度依次为 Zn > Cr > Cu > Pb > As > Cd > Ni。矿井水中砷、镉和铬的浓度超过了各自的限值。根据这项研究的结果，可以得出结论：矿井水具有重大的放射性风险。PTEs 的结果表明，矿井水对人类和环境都有潜在风险。

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来源期刊

Physics and Chemistry of the Earth 地学-地球科学综合

CiteScore

5.40

自引率

2.70%

发文量

176

审稿时长

31.6 weeks

期刊介绍： Physics and Chemistry of the Earth is an international interdisciplinary journal for the rapid publication of collections of refereed communications in separate thematic issues, either stemming from scientific meetings, or, especially compiled for the occasion. There is no restriction on the length of articles published in the journal. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth incorporates the separate Parts A, B and C which existed until the end of 2001. Please note: the Editors are unable to consider submissions that are not invited or linked to a thematic issue. Please do not submit unsolicited papers. The journal covers the following subject areas: -Solid Earth and Geodesy: (geology, geochemistry, tectonophysics, seismology, volcanology, palaeomagnetism and rock magnetism, electromagnetism and potential fields, marine and environmental geosciences as well as geodesy). -Hydrology, Oceans and Atmosphere: (hydrology and water resources research, engineering and management, oceanography and oceanic chemistry, shelf, sea, lake and river sciences, meteorology and atmospheric sciences incl. chemistry as well as climatology and glaciology). -Solar-Terrestrial and Planetary Science: (solar, heliospheric and solar-planetary sciences, geology, geophysics and atmospheric sciences of planets, satellites and small bodies as well as cosmochemistry and exobiology).