Radioactivity and toxic element concentrations in soil and food crops from a copper mining area in Uganda: Environmental and public health implications

IF 2.8 3区物理与天体物理 Q3 CHEMISTRY, PHYSICAL

Radiation Physics and Chemistry Pub Date : 2025-08-29 DOI:10.1016/j.radphyschem.2025.113276

Evarist R.S. Turyahabwa , Farooq Kyeyune , Eric Mucunguzi , Akisophel Kisolo , Manny Mathuthu

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Mining activities can lead to the accumulation of radionuclides and metallic elements in surrounding soils, posing risks to food safety and human health. This study assessed radioactivity and contamination with toxic elements in 18 soil and food crop samples from the Kilembe copper mining area in Western Uganda to evaluate potential public health impacts. The samples were analysed for ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K using high-purity germanium (HPGe) gamma spectrometry, while concentrations of Cr, Cu, Co, Ni, Pb, and As were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The mean activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K in soils were 71.16 ± 40.87, 50.85 ± 9.01, and 823.70 ± 231.58 Bq kg⁻¹, respectively, all exceeding world averages. In food crops, ⁴⁰K levels (1066.51 ± 224.71 Bq kg⁻¹) were also elevated. The estimated annual committed effective dose exceeded the ICRP safety limit of 1 mSv y⁻¹ for infants and children, while the excess lifetime cancer risk surpassed the 2.9 × 10⁻⁴ threshold for all age groups. Annual organ-specific dose estimates revealed increased risks to the gastrointestinal tract and bone surfaces. Metallic element analysis showed high concentrations of Cu (541.05 ± 389.83 mg kg⁻¹) and Pb (64.99 ± 32.93 mg kg⁻¹) in soils, with Pb levels in crops exceeding the WHO/FAO limit by 20 %. The health hazard indices for Cu, Pb, and As were above unity in both children and adults, indicating significant non-carcinogenic risks. Total cancer risks from Pb and As were (2.91 ± 1.27) × 10⁻³ (children) and (1.67 ± 0.73) × 10⁻³ (adults), which exceeded acceptable thresholds. Statistical analysis indicated shared geochemical behaviour of radionuclides and metals in soils, but distinct uptake pathways in food crops. These findings highlight the need for environmental monitoring, mining waste remediation, and regulating food sources to reduce radiological and chemical health risks in the study area.

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乌干达铜矿区土壤和粮食作物中的放射性和有毒元素浓度：对环境和公共健康的影响

采矿活动可能导致放射性核素和金属元素在周围土壤中积累，对食品安全和人类健康构成风险。这项研究评估了来自乌干达西部Kilembe铜矿区的18个土壤和粮食作物样本中的放射性和有毒元素污染，以评估潜在的公共卫生影响。采用高纯锗（HPGe）伽马能谱法分析样品中的226Ra、232Th和40K，采用电感耦合等离子体质谱法（ICP-MS）测定样品中的Cr、Cu、Co、Ni、Pb和As的浓度。土壤中226Ra、232Th和40K的平均活性浓度分别为71.16±40.87、50.85±9.01和823.70±231.58 Bq kg−1，均超过世界平均水平。在粮食作物中，40K水平（1066.51±224.71 Bq kg−1）也有所升高。估计的年承诺有效剂量超过了ICRP对婴儿和儿童的安全限值1毫西弗/−1，而所有年龄组的超额终身癌症风险超过了2.9 × 10−4的阈值。年度器官特异性剂量估计显示胃肠道和骨表面的风险增加。金属元素分析表明，土壤中Cu（541.05±389.83 mg kg - 1）和Pb（64.99±32.93 mg kg - 1）含量较高，作物中Pb含量超过WHO/FAO标准20%。在儿童和成人中，铜、铅和砷的健康危害指数均在统一以上，表明存在显著的非致癌风险。铅和砷的总致癌风险分别为（2.91±1.27）× 10−3（儿童）和（1.67±0.73）× 10−3（成人），均超过可接受阈值。统计分析表明，放射性核素和金属在土壤中具有共同的地球化学行为，但在粮食作物中有不同的吸收途径。这些发现突出表明，需要进行环境监测、采矿废物修复和规范食物来源，以减少研究地区的放射性和化学健康风险。

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来源期刊

Radiation Physics and Chemistry 化学-核科学技术

CiteScore

5.60

自引率

17.20%

发文量

574

审稿时长

12 weeks

期刊介绍： Radiation Physics and Chemistry is a multidisciplinary journal that provides a medium for publication of substantial and original papers, reviews, and short communications which focus on research and developments involving ionizing radiation in radiation physics, radiation chemistry and radiation processing. The journal aims to publish papers with significance to an international audience, containing substantial novelty and scientific impact. The Editors reserve the rights to reject, with or without external review, papers that do not meet these criteria. This could include papers that are very similar to previous publications, only with changed target substrates, employed materials, analyzed sites and experimental methods, report results without presenting new insights and/or hypothesis testing, or do not focus on the radiation effects.