| Issue |
E3S Web Conf.
Volume 336, 2022
The International Conference on Energy and Green Computing (ICEGC’2021)
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Article Number | 00030 | |
| Number of page(s) | 11 | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202233600030 | |
| Published online | 17 January 2022 | |
Environmental radioactivity measurement in soils of an abandoned potash deposit at Holle, Republic of Congo
1 Marien Ngouabi University, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, BP 69 Brazzaville, Congo.
2 Institut National de Recherche en Sciences Exactes et Naturelles (IRSEN), P.O Box 2400 Brazzaville, Congo, Laboratoire de Physique Nucléaire et Applications (LPNA)
3 Centre National de l’Energie, des Sciences et des Techniques Nucléaires (CNESTEN)-Maroc, Laboratoires d’Analyses Elémentaires et Radiométrique (LAER), Division Exploitation des Laboratoires (DEL),
4 Mohammed V University-Agdal, Faculty of Sciences, Laboratory of Nuclear Physics, road 4 Ibn Battouta, B.P. 1014 RP, Rabat, Morocco.
* Corresponding author: foxrussellrolph@gmail.com
The main objective of the present study was to assess natural radioactivity level from soils of an abandoned potash mine and its surroundings at Holle locality in Hinda district, the Republic of Congo. Samples were analyzed using an HPGe gamma spectrometer. Activity concentration values obtained varied from 21.01 ± 6.47 to 117.3 ± 2.69 Bq/kg with a mean value of 46.15 ± 4.69 Bq/kg of 40K; that of 238U varied from 17.36 ± 10.74 to 40.04 ± 8.58 Bq/kg with a mean value of 25.14 ± 10.06 Bq/k, while that of 232Th varied from 8.68 ± 3.7 to 27.33 ± 2.69 Bq/kg with a mean value of 18.16 ± 2.94 Bq/kg. Mean activity concentration values obtained for 238U, 232Th and 40K were relatively low compared to the world average values. Radiological hazard indices associated were also calculated and found to be under recommended limits. Results pointed out that radioactivity level in the region was relatively low. Consequently, soils of the surrounding abandoned potash mine can be used for buildings construction.
Key words: Natural radionuclides / Radiological hazards / Soil / Holle potash deposit / gamma spectrometry
© The Authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2022
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