RESRAD-ONSITE simulation to evaluate the effect of contamination thickness in determining the dose and excess lifetime cancer risk due to tin mining activities in Nigeria

Soil excavation in search of mineral ores provides a means of livelihood to many families in Nigeria. However, the practice was found to be associated with many radiological health concerns that were not known to the miners and people living within the mining vicinities. In an effort to provide such useful information, the activity concentrations of 40K, 226Ra, and 232Th from tin mining areas in Zainabi, Kano, Nigeria, were analyzed using a high-purity germanium detector. The results obtained show activity concentrations of 40K, 226Ra, and 232Th higher than their corresponding world average values. A RESRAD-ONSITE software code was further used to evaluate the dose and cancer risk using a variable contamination thickness. The results obtained show an annual effective dose value greater than the maximum acceptable limit of 1 mSv/yr for non-radiation workers in Nigeria. The evaluated excess lifetime cancer risk also exceeded the United States Environmental Protection Agency threshold and the word average values of 1.45 × 10−3 and 1.06 × 10−4, respectively. Therefore, sustainable mining practices should be implemented in the areas to avert the perceived radiation-related problems.