Age-Stratified Spatial Radiological Risk Assessment of ²²⁶Ra ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K in Water Surrounding the Geita Gold Mine in Tanzania.

IF 4.4 Q1 TOXICOLOGY

Journal of Xenobiotics Pub Date : 2025-09-16 DOI:10.3390/jox15050152

Jerome M Mwimanzi, Nils H Haneklaus, Farida Lolila, Janeth J Marwa, Mwemezi J Rwiza, Kelvin M Mtei

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Long-term ingestion of water contaminated with naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) may pose health risks. Water around the Geita Gold Mine in Tanzania was assessed by high-purity germanium gamma spectrometry to quantify the activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K, and computed age-stratified ingestion doses and risk indices were determined. The average activity concentrations were 57 mBq L^-1 for ²²⁶Ra and 5026 mBq L^-1 for ⁴⁰K, while the activity concentrations of ²³²Th were below the detection limit in all samples. The estimated adult fatal cancer risk ranged from 0.9 × 10^-6 to 3.1 × 10^-6 (mean 2.0 × 10^-6). The excess lifetime hereditary effect ranged from 2.0 × 10^-6 to 7.3 × 10^-6 for males (average 4.5 × 10^-6 ± 1.5 × 10^-6) and 2.1 × 10^-6 to 7.7 × 10^-6 for females (average 4.8 × 10^-6 ± 1.6 × 10^-6). One-way ANOVA and Pearson correlations indicated significant spatial variation in activities and indices across sites and age groups. Under current conditions, waters appear to be radiologically safe. However, mine-adjacent hotspots warrant targeted surveillance. The obtained results provide a baseline for sound monitoring approaches at the Geita Gold Mine and other mines showing similar activity profiles.

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坦桑尼亚盖塔金矿周围水体226Ra、232Th和40K年龄分层空间辐射风险评价

长期摄入被天然放射性物质（NORM）污染的水可能会造成健康风险。采用高纯锗伽马能谱法对坦桑尼亚Geita金矿周围水体进行了评估，量化了226Ra、232Th和40K的活度浓度，并确定了计算的年龄分层摄入剂量和风险指数。226Ra的平均活性浓度为57 mBq L-1, 40K的平均活性浓度为5026 mBq L-1，而232Th的活性浓度均低于检测限。估计的成人致死癌症风险范围为0.9 × 10-6至3.1 × 10-6（平均为2.0 × 10-6）。雄性的超额终生遗传效应为2.0 × 10-6 ~ 7.3 × 10-6（平均4.5 × 10-6±1.5 × 10-6），雌性为2.1 × 10-6 ~ 7.7 × 10-6（平均4.8 × 10-6±1.6 × 10-6）。单因素方差分析和Pearson相关性表明，不同地点和年龄组的活动和指数存在显著的空间差异。在目前的情况下，从放射学角度看，水域是安全的。然而，地雷附近的热点需要有针对性的监视。所获得的结果为盖塔金矿和显示类似活动概况的其他矿山的健全监测方法提供了基线。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Xenobiotics TOXICOLOGY-

CiteScore

5.30

自引率

1.70%

发文量

审稿时长

10 weeks

期刊介绍： The Journal of Xenobiotics publishes original studies concerning the beneficial (pharmacology) and detrimental effects (toxicology) of xenobiotics in all organisms. A xenobiotic (“stranger to life”) is defined as a chemical that is not usually found at significant concentrations or expected to reside for long periods in organisms. In addition to man-made chemicals, natural products could also be of interest if they have potent biological properties, special medicinal properties or that a given organism is at risk of exposure in the environment. Topics dealing with abiotic- and biotic-based transformations in various media (xenobiochemistry) and environmental toxicology are also of interest. Areas of interests include the identification of key physical and chemical properties of molecules that predict biological effects and persistence in the environment; the molecular mode of action of xenobiotics; biochemical and physiological interactions leading to change in organism health; pathophysiological interactions of natural and synthetic chemicals; development of biochemical indicators including new “-omics” approaches to identify biomarkers of exposure or effects for xenobiotics.