Determination of Natural Radioactivity Level and Hazard Assessment of Groundwater Samples from Mining Area in the North Region of Burkina Faso
Keywords:
Activity concentration, Effective Dose, Uranium, Thorium, Potassium, Groundwater.Abstract
The activity concentrations of Natural Radionuclides 238U. 232Th and 40K in groundwater samples were measured using a Gamma Spectrometry with High Purity Germanium detector. Also. Radiological Hazard due to these Natural Radionuclides through water ingestion is investigated. The mean activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K in water samples from boreholes were found to be 0.36 ± 0.07 Bq.L-1. 0.50 ±0.09 Bq.L-1 and 5.32 ± 0.76 Bq.L-1 respectively. The average Annual Committed Effective Dose was 0.16 ± 0.02 mSv. The results obtained are below the recommended levels of 10.0 Bq.L-1 and 1.0 Bq.L-1 for 238U and 232Th respectively for drinking water quality established by the WHO and 1 mSv per year dose limit recommended by the ICRP for public radiation exposure. These results indicate insignificant radiological hazard due to ingestion of NORMS in drinking water from boreholes by the communities in this area.
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