Determination of Natural Radioactivity Level and Hazard Assessment of Groundwater Samples from Mining Area in the North Region of Burkina Faso

Authors

  • Karim Kabore Department of Physics, University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
  • Inoussa Zongo National Center of Scientific Research and Technology, Burkina Faso
  • Luc Telado Bambara Nuclear Medicine office, Yalgado Teaching Hospital, Burkina Faso
  • Moumouni Derra Department of Physics, University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
  • Ousmane Cisse Department of Physics, University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
  • François Zougmore Department of Physics, University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
  • Ali Ibrahim Doe Radiation Protection Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Ghana

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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Published

2017-10-31

How to Cite

Kabore, K., Zongo, I., Bambara, L. T., Derra, M., Cisse, O., Zougmore, F., & Doe, A. I. (2017). Determination of Natural Radioactivity Level and Hazard Assessment of Groundwater Samples from Mining Area in the North Region of Burkina Faso. American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences, 37(1), 187–199. Retrieved from https://asrjetsjournal.org/index.php/American_Scientific_Journal/article/view/3392

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