Abstract This study presents the activity concentration and estimated radiological indices associated with lead mining activities in Akwana, Wukari, Nigeria. Lead ore, soil samples, and mining tailings from the mining sites were analyzed using a NaI(Tl)-based gamma spectroscopy to determine 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K. The activity concentration of the radionuclides detected ranged from 33.1 ± 3.9 to 131.8 ± 4.0 Bq/kg for 40 K, 41.0 ± 1.9 to 87.8 ± 2.0 Bq/kg for 226 Ra, and 116.5 ± 1.2 to 319.2 ± 1.8 Bq/kg for 232 Th, with an average activity concentration of 67, 55, and 180 Bq/kg for 40 K, 226 Ra, and 232 Th, respectively. The average activity concentration of 40 K is below the global average of 420 Bq/kg; however, the activity concentrations of 226 Ra and 232 Th are higher than the worldwide average of 35 and 45 Bq/kg, respectively. The radiological indices calculated using the mean concentration of the radionuclides in the samples are within the safety limits, except for a few points comparable to the recommended limit of unity for radiological hazards. The calculated radium equivalents ranged from 214.1 to 572.0 Bq/kg with an average value of 331.0 Bq/kg, which is less than the recommended radium equivalent value of ≤370 Bq/kg, which is also the requirement for soil materials to be used for construction purposes. This implies that the soil can be used for various construction purposes, and no radiological hazard is envisaged for the public.
Agomuo et al. (Thu,) studied this question.
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